NCAA to suspend intl carriers over deportation of passengers, denied boarding

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said henceforth it will suspend, fine and carry out other regulatory actions against foreign airlines who sell tickets to passengers only to airlift them halfway their destinations and deport them back to Nigeria.

It stated that it had received several complaints about the issue that has caused pain to travellers.

The NCAA, in a statement, said these actions, which involve the refusal of boarding/entry of 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.

The statement signed by Michael Achimugu, the Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, said the NCAA finds such policies completely unacceptable, further describing it as the responsibility of airlines to inform passengers about any potential barriers to their admissibility at their destinations before they commence their travel.

He further stated that passengers must not be put in a position where they are denied entry or returned to Nigeria only on arrival at international/transit stops.

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He reiterated that this is in line with the provision of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 19.21.1.1, which states that all airlines and their agents shall ensure that passengers are informed of any potential admissibility issues or travel restrictions in advance of their departure.

He said, “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”.

Consequently, the NCAA has informed international airlines operating in Nigeria that it would no longer tolerate these occurrences.

“Effective immediately, any airline found to be engaging in such practices will be subject to regulatory action, including but not limited to fines, suspension of flight operations or other measures deemed appropriate”.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.