The Senate has summoned the minister of aviation and aerospace development Festus Keyamo alongside airline operators and other stakeholders to address the growing problem of frequent flight delays and cancellations across the country.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion presented by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation Senator Abdulfatai Buhari during Wednesday’s plenary session.
The motion titled “Incessant delayed and cancelled flights by Airline Operators in Nigeria” highlighted the disruptive effects of these issues on the nation’s socio-economic development.
Senator Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial District, emphasised that air travel remains one of the most reliable and time-sensitive modes of transportation, often used for business and official engagements. He lamented that unwarranted delays and cancellations not only inconvenience passengers but also undermine economic growth and Nigeria’s global image.
In his debate, Buhari noted: “Air travels are often undertaken for business/official purposes and to keep to other scheduled appointments, which are usually time-bound. Therefore, unwarranted flight delays and cancellations will be counterproductive to the socio-economic growth and development of this country.
“The Senate further notes that as part of interventionist measures to check unethical and unwholesome practices of the practitioners in the aviation sector, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is statutorily empowered, through the enactment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, to among other things, provide oversight.”
He urged the NCAA to enforce its regulations more effectively to ensure airlines adhere to international standards and deliver value to customers.
Several senators, including Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, Minority Leader Abba Moro and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, expressed strong support for the motion. They called for urgent measures to address the systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The Senate directed its Committee on Aviation to summon the following for a comprehensive engagement: Keyamo, director-general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and other relevant aviation stakeholders.
The Senate also reiterated the importance of enforcing consumer protection provisions under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations, ensuring that passengers are compensated for time lost due to unnecessary delays.
