Over N1bn Refunded to Passengers in Two Months, Says NCAA

According to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), it arranged passenger compensation and refunds totaling more than N1 billion in 2025—the largest amount of reimbursements in the organization’s history.

In an interview, Mr. Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Relations and Consumer Protection, revealed this, pointing out that the move represents enhanced consumer protection and better regulatory enforcement by the authority.

Achimugu claims that domestic airlines paid passengers more than N1 billion in reimbursements between May and July 2025 alone, without the NCAA being involved directly. He characterized this as a major change in business behavior.

He claimed that greater refunds, compensation payments, hotel accommodations, and other passenger entitlements that were previously unknown to many air travelers have resulted from the tougher enforcement of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations, which has changed both the passenger experience and airline compliance.

“This year, we have significantly improved our ability to implement Part 19 of the NCAA regulations. We have therefore received the greatest number of reimbursements and compensations,” he stated.
Achimugu noted that the authority now offers round-the-clock assistance and credited the advancement to increased accessibility for passengers and better stakeholder involvement.

Travelers are now aware that someone is always ready to listen. He added that the strategy has contributed to the restoration of confidence in the aviation system and that even if problems are not entirely rectified, it won’t be because no one paid attention.

He added that airlines have also adapted to what he called a “new terrain,” emphasizing that adherence to rules is now required.
“Business as normal has ceased. Most of the time, airlines now cooperate without the need for escalation, he said.

However, Achimugu noted that many travelers prioritize their rights over their obligations and voiced concern about the increasing problem of disorderly passengers and public pressure.

According to him, “the majority of passengers are preoccupied with their rights but not much about their responsibilities.”

He clarified that implementing rules against such behavior frequently puts the NCAA at conflict with public opinion, which occasionally condones misconduct out of emotional reasons.