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  • Expect drop in airfares soon, says NCAA

    Expect drop in airfares soon, says NCAA

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has assured air passengers that airfares would drop in the coming days.

    The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, Michael Achimugu attributed the expected drop to the payment of airlines trapped funds, engagement with all the airlines and other relevant stakeholders by the agency.

    He added that the agency, under the leadership of Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo would do all it takes to crash airfares.

     Achimugu who disclosed this in a chat with The Nation said: “Globally, airfares are not regulated but the government can engage airlines to be reasonable about their fares and that is what the NCAA under the leadership of Captain Chris Najomo based on the instruction of the Minister who has shown great concern for consumer protection did.

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    “Very recently, the NCAA set up a high powered committee to look into the possibilities of reducing airfares generally.

    “We engaged the airlines and we have gotten the commitment of the majority of them to look into the reduction of fares.”

     On steps taken by the government and the agency to bring about a drop in airfares, Achimugu said: “It is a joint effort of NCAA, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC),  National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), and other stakeholders.

     “The commitment of the Minister has also helped. He told us to do whatever we have to do because he is very committed to consumer protection and the DG’s policy is geared towards ease of doing business.

     “The DG believes that if we make things easy for the airlines, they will also reciprocate.”

  • Expect drop in airfares, NCAA assures passengers

    Expect drop in airfares, NCAA assures passengers

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has assured air passengers that airfares would drop in the coming days.

    The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, Michael Achimugu attributed the expected drop to the payment of airlines trapped funds, engagement with all the airlines, and other relevant stakeholders by the agency.

    He added that the agency under the leadership of Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo would do all it takes to crash airfares.

    He disclosed this to The Nation during a brief interaction with him.

    Achimugu said: “Globally, airfares are not regulated but the government can engage airlines to be reasonable about their fares and that is what the NCAA under the leadership of Captain Chris Najomo based on the instruction of the minister has shown great concern for consumer protection did.

    Read Also: NCAA to clamp down on private jets on charter

    “Very recently, the NCAA set up a high-powered committee to look into the possibilities of reducing airfares generally.

    “We engaged the airlines and we have gotten the commitment of the majority of them to look into the reduction of fares.”

    On steps taken by the government and the agency to experience a drop in airfares, Achimugu said: “It is a joint effort of NCAA, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), and other stakeholders.

    “The commitment of the Minister has also helped. He told us to do whatever we have to do because he is very committed to consumer protection and the DG’s policy is geared towards ease of doing business.

    “The DG believes that if we make things easy for the airlines, they will also reciprocate.”

    “The clearance of the trapped fund is also a factor. So, it is a combination of so many factors. We will keep engaging all relevant stakeholders in the sector.”

    He also noted that ease of doing business and fair competition amongst local and foreign airlines would lead to further drop in ticket prices.

    He added: “Other ways to experience a further crash in ticket fares is to make it easy to do business and for fair competition amongst the various airlines.

    “The entrance of Airpeace into some of the international routes has crashed the fares. Like the Minister mentioned, fair competition would lead to a drop in airfares also. So, it is important for local airline operators to be on top of their games and take advantage of opportunities.”

  • NCAA to clamp down on private jets on charter

    NCAA to clamp down on private jets on charter

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned holders of Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF), private jet owners to desist from engaging in commercial flights or face stiff penalties.

    The regulatory body made this known in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Mike Achimugu.

    Read Also: High air fares: NCAA sets up 10-man C’ttee

    The holders of PNCF, according to the NCAA, are not permitted to use their aircraft for “Carriage of Passengers Cargo or Mail for Hire or Reward (commercial operations or charter services)”.

    In line with Section 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022 the NCAA warned that it “will not hesitate to initiate enforcement actions against any PNCF holder found guilty of illegal operations with suspension, withdrawal or revocation of their Permit for Non-Commercial flight’’.

  • High air fares: NCAA sets up 10-man C’ttee

    High air fares: NCAA sets up 10-man C’ttee

    In a move to halt the spiraling cost of air tickets in the country and make travelling affordable for Nigerians, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Captain Chris Najomo, has set up a 10-man Committee to look into the high cost of tickets in the country.

    The Committee is coming on the heels of a two-day high-level meeting held between NCAA and foreign airlines in the country on the urgent need to unblock all low inventory tickets which were hitherto blocked for over 18 months.

    The 10-man committee is chaired by Director of Special Duties NCAA, Mr Horatius Egua and saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the foreign airlines fully comply with the directives of the government to unblock all low inventory tickets as well as recommend appropriate pricing of tickets in Nigeria compared to similar markets in the West African sub-region.

    Nigerians have been made to pay higher fares on international flights as all the foreign airlines increased their flight tickets astronomically citing the high exchange rate as well as other sundry issues and also deliberately blocked low inventory tickets making travel unbearable for Nigerians.

    “This is very discriminatory in nature. We cannot continue to pay higher fares compared to other countries in the sub-region that have similar distances, using same operating aircraft. We have the market and in some cases we have more liberal taxes. This is unacceptable and we totally reject this,” Egua who represented Najomo at the two-day meeting held in Abuja, said.

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    “For instance, a distance of six hours from Ghana to London may sometimes cost about $800 while similar distance with similar operating aircraft cost over $2000 in Nigeria. This is discriminatory and an unfair practice and we reject this in totality,” he further stated. 

    One of the key resolutions at the end of the meeting between the Authority, FCCPC, NANTA and the foreign airlines was  for the reduction in  the cost of tickets and for the airlines to unconditionally unblock all lower inventory tickets to the Nigerian market.

    Following the instruction of the Authority, Lufthansa German Airlines, KLM, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, and Turkish Airlines have all released all categories of low inventory tickets while Air France has failed to comply with the directives.

  • Domestic airlines face sanctions over flight delays, disruptions, says NCAA

    Domestic airlines face sanctions over flight delays, disruptions, says NCAA

    Flight disruptions, incessant delays and schedule changes without adequate notice to passengers will henceforth attract sanctions, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned domestic airlines.

    The agency said airlines must fulfill their obligations to passengers or face the consequences.

    NCAA Acting Director-General, Chris Najomo, issued the warning during a meeting with airline operators in Abuja at the weekend.

    He decried the alarming reports of flight delays, disruptions and schedule changes without adequate notice to passengers.

    Najomo reiterated the need for airlines to improve their services as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) was determined to enforce his five point agenda as mandated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The NCAA boss described as unacceptable the record of flight disruptions, poor customer experience and poor handling of passengers, insisting that the operator must improve on their services.

    According to him, airlines must rejig their flight schedule to match their number of serviceable aircraft and that airlines are all aware of the airports which have sunset operations.

    He said: “Hence, airlines must consider scheduling flights into sunset airports early in the day so as to minimise cancellations as a result of airport closure at sunset.

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    “Airlines must handle persons with reduced mobility properly, with dignity and without discrimination as airlines are mandated to provide facilities for the movement of Persons with Reduced Mobility and by virtue of the provisions of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, Part 19, airlines are required to provide on their ticket portal a mandatory field for special needs assistance and require their agents to actively ask customers during ticket purchase if they will require assistance.

    “It is no longer business as usual as errant airlines will be sanctioned appropriately without fear or favor” noting that NCAA had stepped up its surveillance to monitor compliance with a view to fishing out violators.”

    The Director Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, said Keyamo was focused on sanitising the aviation industry and that sanctions will be applied for any infraction, or flight disruptions not managed properly.

  • NCAA cautions pilots over inclement weather

    NCAA cautions pilots over inclement weather

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised Pilots and Airline Operators to exercise caution over a three-day dust haze starting on Monday to Wednesday January 29 – 31, 2024 across the country.

    This warning was contained in a statement by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) on weather alerting the public on the possibility of deterioration in visibility as a result of observed dust haze propagated into the country.

    NiMets weather outlook released on Sunday predicted moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility range from 2km to 5km over the North.

     It envisaged moderate dust haze with a horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km, and localized horizontal visibility of less than or equal to 1000m over the North central.

    The agency forecast dust haze over the inland of the South and the coastal region throughout the forecast period.

     For Tuesday, moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km is anticipated over the northern region.

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    The statement also reads:”  Moderate dust haze with a horizontal visibility range of 2kn to 5km, and localized horizontal visibility of less than or equal to 1000m is anticipated over the North central.

    The inland of the South and the coastal region of the country throughout the forecast period.

    According to NiMet, thick dust haze is expected over the northern region throughout the forecast period.

    The agency anticipated moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km.

    It further anticipated localized horizontal visibility of less than or equal to 1,000m over the North Central, the Inland of the South and the Coastal belt of the country.

    It reads :” Dust particles are in suspension; use face mask where possible. People with Asthma and other respiratory issues should be cautious of the present weather situations.

    Special attention should be paid to your skin, eyes and lips. Moisturize your skin and lips as much as possible.

    “Airline operators are advised to get updated weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning in their operations as the Authority urges all passengers to exercise patience and understanding during this period as their safety is of utmost importance.”

  • NCAA boss hails NiMet for aviation safety, others

    NCAA boss hails NiMet for aviation safety, others

    The Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has hailed the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for providing appropriate guidance in preventing accidents and incidents caused by thunderstorms and dust haze.

     This, the NCAA boss said, has reduced incidents/accidents associated with adverse weather conditions over the years.

     He acknowledged the positive impact of the seasonal climate prediction (SCP) by the weatherman on the aviation sector. 

    The agency boss urged NiMet to provide data that shows the level of accuracy of the SCP, for instance, the number of Wind Shear phenomena recorded at airports across the country due to thunderstorm activities, among others.

     Najomo spoke yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by NiMet to herald the public presentation of this year’s seasonal climate prediction (SCP) slated for February 20 as approved by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo (SAN).

     The stakeholders praised NiMet for its invaluable contributions towards Nigeria’s economic development by releasing the SCP over the years.

     Last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stated that obeying NiMet’s advisory in 2022 on flood prediction saved the country more than N120 billion.

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     NiMet’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Charles Anosike, stated that the agency aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda aimed at boosting the economy through food security, poverty eradication, economic growth, job creation, among others, through timely weather and climate information.

     He said over the years, the SCP had evolved in scope, including the concept of co-production, which is supported by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), allowing critical stakeholders to be part of the production process of weather and climate information to increase the depth of knowledge, improve accuracy and enhance relevance of information provided.

    According to him, this makes stakeholders to “co-own the weather and climate information generated”.

     The WMO Representative of in Nigeria, Dr. Bernard Gomez, praised the agency for issuing the seasonal climate prediction for 10 years.

    “WMO has established a protocol that mandates users of climate and weather information to co-produce. NiMet is following this protocol to meet the needs of the stakeholders. The agency cannot do this alone hence the need to partner and collaborate with sectoral,” he said.

    The Executive Director of Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA),  Mr. Arigbabu Sulaimon, described NiMet’s work as critical to the protection of livelihoods of people and diversifying the economy.

     He added that it is not only the aviation sector that benefits greatly from NiMet’s services but the food and agricultural sectors, among others.

  • NCAA not relocating headquarters to Lagos, says Acting DG

    NCAA not relocating headquarters to Lagos, says Acting DG

    The acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed on Friday that the agency will not be relocating its headquarters to Lagos.

    Speaking at an interactive session with journalists to unveil his vision for the NCAA, titled “NCAA Project 2024,” in Lagos, Capt. Najomo stated that the NCAA headquarters remains in Abuja.

    “NCAA has not received a directive to relocate; we are still in Abuja,” the acting DG said.

     Najomo said the journey to transform the sector has just begun.

    He  itemised  prompt and simplified licencing/certification, enhanced surveillance, consumer protection, and staff welfare, among others, as those areas that would be given the utmost attention.

    He also listed digital transformation; intensified revenue drive; Universal Safety Audit and ISO 9001 certification as part of his agenda for the year.

    While making his presentation, Najomo also urged debtor airlines to pay up their debts or risk being denied services henceforth.

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    While also giving the option to schedule the payment, he said the Authority has adopted a ‘no pay, no service’ policy as airlines will no longer get services not paid for.

    He said a large chunk of the money (50 percent) now goes straight to government coffers, adding that as a cost recovery agency, it will no longer condone heavy debts from airlines.

    “We are intensifying our cost recovery drive, the federal government now takes 50% of the money, most of the airlines are owing us, and we have told them to pay up. A debt recovery Joint Task Force shall be mandated to implement the cost recovery drive. All debtors to NCAA shall cease to receive services from the Authority, there shall be operation no pay, no service and there will be strict sanctions for defaulting operators,” he said.

    Speaking on consumer protection, the NCAA boss disclosed that there are consumer protection officers monitoring airline operations at all of Nigeria’s airports, adding that some delays and cancellations are not the fault of the airlines but when it’s their fault, they will be made to pay according to the regulations.

    He hinted at putting up a portal where passengers can log their complaints for prompt attention and resolution.

    “Enforcing airlines’ compliance with the Nig. Cars 2023 Part 19 (Consumer Protection Regulations) is a priority. We will ensure that airlines provide timely care to passengers for service disruptions, we will ensure that consumers receive quality service In the Nigerian Aviation industry and that their rights are always protected,” he said.

  • NCAA stresses training, safety standards

    NCAA stresses training, safety standards

    The Acting Director, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Chris Njomo, has affirmed his commitment to prioritise training and retraining for the maintenance of Nigeria’s air safety standards.

    Emphasising the agency’s core policy, he stressed the importance of ensuring staff competency through continuous education.

    During the resumption of work in Lagos after the festive period, capt Njomo who was, represented by the Director Operations, Licensing and Training Standards, Captain Donald Spiff,  warned that disciplinary measures would be taken against any staff member who fails to attend paid training as a deterrent.

    He promised to look holistically into the issue of promotion with a view to ensure the creation of openings especially on grade levels 5-17.

    “Understandably, there have been murmurs with respect to the issue of Promotions. Staff have expressed concerns about the paucity of vacancies/openings on grade level: 15 17 There have been stagnation on these grade levels for lengthy periods with no end or hope in sight.”

    Addressing union matters, Captain Njomo expressed a desire for a harmonious working relationship in the New Year, promising collaboration to address contentious issues and prevent industrial disharmony.

    “I wish to again reiterate my commitment and promise to always listen and heed to the wise input of the unions, please accept this as my hand of fellowship to ensure a peaceful, harmonious relationship”.

    Representatives from the four unions in the NCAA highlighted concerns about the reviewed and enduring Conditions of Service (CoS) and urged the swift appointment of Board of Directors for the Aviation Agencies and stoppage of 40 percent  remittance into Single Treasury Account, TSA.

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    Comrades Drisu Musa, Chairman, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE and Remi Aderinkomi, Chairman, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, in the NCAA also voiced dissatisfaction with the management of staff in Health Management Organizations under the National Health Insurance Scheme, calling for a review.

    Emphasizing that, the NCAA is not a revenue generating agency but cost recovery, the unions’ other broader concerns encompassed issues such as rent arrears, transport, and training allowances.

    “The local transport being charged on our local training is very, very unrealistic, they should remove the NCAA in the interest of safety and security of flight operations from the Single Treasury Account, TSA. The labour union is a negotiating platform.

    At the joint prayers assembly, the prayers were targeted at achieving a year free of accidents, sustaining its mission and vision, fostering unity in the country, comfort for those who lost their loved ones in the last year and empower the new management amongst others.

  • NCAA directs airlines to share information on flight disruption

    NCAA directs airlines to share information on flight disruption

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed airlines to share information on flight disruptions to empower passengers to make informed travel decisions.

      This is coming on the heels of the recent flight disturbances causing inconvenience to air travelers.

    In a statement, the NCAA Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said  the authority  understands  the challenges faced by affected passengers and express empathy.

    He said their monitoring includes oversight of operations and that Consumer Protection Officers are  present to supervise passenger handling procedures, ensuring airlines adhere to Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 19.

    This oversight, according to the statement, aims to minimise inconveniences by ensuring airlines provide care, refreshments, and other suitable alternatives to affected passengers.

    In a related development, a start up carrier, Bellagio Airlines,  has expressed its readiness  to bridging  gaps in the provision air travel services by embracing cutting-edge technology, and utilising ancillary channels to enhance  shuttles  within Nigeria.

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    Speaking during a courtesy call on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN), in Abuja  Dr. Oludare Akande, Chairman, Bellagio Airlines, highlighted the airline’s goal of pursuing excellence  plans to maintain high levels of reliability, reduction in  flights delays and cancellations, improvement  on safety promise to deliver  unparalleled customer experience.

    Akande commended Olorogun Keyamo for his visionary initiatives and decisions, describing the state of affairs in the aviation sector as a “new dawn.”

    He expressed optimism about the future of the industry, and hailed the transformative leadership of Chief Keyamo.

    He said Bellagio Airlines looks forward to making a lasting impact on the aviation landscape, delivering enhanced travel experiences and contributing to the growth of  aviation.

    The minister, who welcomed the Bellagio team, urged the airline to bring  new ideas and initiatives that would contribute to the transformation of the  sector.

    He acknowledged the role of passion as one of the key drivers of investment and innovation, and praised Bellagio Airlines and other leading stakeholders for their commitment to developing the sector.