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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has at last addressed the issue of Nigerian travelers who were stuck abroad.
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The NCAA stated that the airline has the responsibility to notify passengers about travel requirements prior to departing from Nigeria.
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The NCAA has likewise declared strict punishments for airlines that proceed to sell tickets to passengers without providing prior notification.
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Journalist Ruth Okwumbu-Imafidon boasts more than ten years of expertise in business journalism spanning both online and traditional media platforms.
As nations keep revising their travel regulations and restriction criteria, Nigerian airlines are now obligated to inform passengers about these limitations.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has released a statement to show that it would no longer condone incidents of airlines selling tickets to passengers without informing them of travel restrictions that may hinder them from getting to their destinations.
The NCAA Director for Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, pointed out in the statement that this issue frequently leads to travelers getting stuck midway through their journey and subsequently being sent back to Nigeria because of visa or travel limitations.
Nigerian traveler stuck in Nairobi
Remember that a Nigerian traveler named Gloria Omisore was stuck in Nairobi for 18 hours due to a similar event.
The traveler had embarked on multiple flights to arrive at Manchester, with layovers in Nairobi and Paris.
Nonetheless, she was halted in Kenya due to allegations that she failed to fulfill the visa and travel prerequisites for proceeding to Paris, and subsequently went back to Nigeria.
Achimugu emphasized that the policy of flying passengers to an intermediate destination and subsequently sending them back to Nigeria because of these limitations will not go unnoticed anymore.
He expressed regret over how the circumstances led to discomfort for the travelers and damaged Nigeria’s reputation within the global aerospace sector.
Airline companies required to inform travelers about travel limitations.
In his statement, Achimugu emphasized that it is the duty of the airline to inform passengers about any restrictions or possible obstacles prior to selling them tickets for their journey.
He insisted;
Travelers must not find themselves in a situation where they are refused admission or sent back to Nigeria upon reaching intermediate transit points.
According to the stipulations outlined in Section 19.21.1.1 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations from 2023, every airline along with their representatives must guarantee that travelers are made aware of any possible entry concerns or travel limitations prior to their departure.
He further stated that the airline needs to verify whether the traveler fulfills all current criteria prior to providing a ticket or allowing them to board, according to CABLE.
The NCAA imposes fresh penalties on airlines and provides explanations.
The NCAA stated that it will not delay in imposing penalties on any domestic or foreign airline that fails to comply.
This encompasses financial penalties and suspensions of flight activities, according to what the regulatory body considers suitable.
Achimugu encouraged the airlines to collaborate and make sure they safeguard the interests of the passengers as well as maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
NCAA revokes operator licenses
As reported elsewhere, the NCAA has rescinded the Air Operator Certificates for Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited and Omni-Blu Aviation.
The penalty was imposed due to regulatory violations and aligns with Section 1.2.1.5(b) of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs).
NCAA noted that this is also to show the other airlines that the regulator would not slack in upholding strict safety and legal standards in the aviation industry.