The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned all international airlines operating in Nigeria that it will no longer tolerate denied boarding and deportation of Nigerians.
The warning came following complaints about airlines selling tickets to passengers, airlifting them halfway to their destinations and deporting them to Nigeria.
The NCAA, in a statement by the Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, declared effective immediately, any airline found to be engaged in such practices will be subject to regulatory action, including but not limited to fines, suspension of flight operations, or other measures deemed appropriate.
The statement read: “The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has received several complaints about airlines selling tickets to passengers, only to airlift them halfway to their destinations and deport them back to Nigeria.
“These actions which involve the refusal of boarding/entry at intermediate/transit stops to some Nigerians due to visa/travel restrictions are causing significant distress to passengers and tarnishing the reputation of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
“Airlines must take appropriate measures to screen and provide passengers with accurate, up-to-date information regarding their travel documents and visa requirements before issuing a ticket and proceeding to board them
“In light of this, the NCAA informs all international airlines operating in Nigeria that the Authority will no longer tolerate these occurrences.
“Effective immediately, any airline found to be engaged in such practices will be subject to regulatory action, including but not limited to fines, suspension of flight operations, or other measures deemed appropriate.”
Daily Trust reports that in February, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had criticised Kenya Airways regarding the inappropriate treatment of a Nigerian passenger who was stranded at Nairobi Airport.
The authority had at that time formally requested that Kenya Airways issue a public apology and provide compensation to the passenger for the distressing experience endured as a result of the actions of its officials in Nairobi.
NCAA and the Management of Kenya Airways were at loggerheads regarding the perceived inhuman treatment dished out to a Nigerian passenger identified as “Gloria Ibukun Omisore” at the Nairobi airport by Kenya Airways officials.
The airline prevented her from boarding due to alleged “visa issues,” which resulted in inconvenience before she eventually returned to Nigeria.
In a viral video that made the rounds on social media on Monday, a representative of Kenya Airways was seen in a verbal exchange with the passenger.
In the video, a Kenya Airways agent told Ms Omisore she would not be allowed to fly with the airline again. Ms Omisore responded that she was on the phone with Nigeria’s finance minister, but the agent, visibly angry, said she could call the Nigerian president if she wanted.
The incident triggered an altercation between NCAA officials and Kenya Airways, including reactions from several users of the social media platform, X, on Monday.
Consequently, the NCAA through its spokesperson, Achimugu, later informed Nigerians that Kenyan Airways have now apologised.
There have been other cases too where the NCAA had to intervene for passengers who were stranded abroad following visa restrictions.
President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Yinka Folami, in a chat with our correspondent said it is the destination countries, and not the foreign airlines that sent back passengers.
He however said the foreign airlines’ profilers have a responsibility to make sure that the passengers meet the entry requirements of the destination countries.
He commended the move by the NCAA to correct the anomaly.
Folami said, “So it is negligence on the part of the profilers. You can’t even check in without the profilers, not to talk of boarding. Then you board a passenger and the passenger gets to the departure country and he is returned.”
Culled from Daily Trust
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