The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has stated that it would not hesitate to step on toes to achieve the desired results in the aviation sector as the task before the agency towards repositioning the industry huge .
The Acting Director General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo said this at the agency’s Consumer Protection National Stakeholders Summit with the theme, “Achieving Increased Adoption of Digital Technology in Air Travel Customer Complain Management: The Regulatory Perspective, today at NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMA), Lagos.
The Acting DG, who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, said that the regulatory body will collaborate with other stakeholders to fix the aviation industry.
“The task before us is huge. We will step on toes to get the right thing done. We will make decisions and adjustments that will not compromise safety and security, but will uplift the travel experience of the people for whose sake, the industry exists; the passengers,” Najomo said.
He informed that the reason for inviting aviation stakeholders and aviation personnel whose duties impact directly on the passenger from Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN ), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) , baggage handlers ,Nigeria Customs Service(NCS),travel agents, Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS)and airlines is to address issues that has to do with consumer protection.
He stated that during a sensitisation and awareness campaign to an airport terminals in Lagos, yesterday an airline management staff accused the Consumer Protection Department of always taking sides with passengers, adding that though he spoke respectfully, he was speaking what he believed to be his truth.
He stated that despite, that passengers still believe that the CPD protect the airlines more than it about passenger rights.
Achimugu said that the essence of the invite he extended to all the concerned stakeholders is for all of them to defend their actions.
“We will probe each other, we will investigate, we will be brutally honest, and we will collaborate to fix the problems.
“Over the years, the problem with meetings like this one has been the lack of follow-through. There’s been a lot of talk but no action. Under the leadership of Capt. Chris Najomo, today’s NCAA does not intend to become a mere statistic in the dustbin of history,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to approach these discussions from a place of honesty and patriotism and that they must not talk for the sake of speaking, but with a sense of pride that as the present and future of the aviation industry rest upon their shoulders rests the pre
He called on passengers to remember that airlines are in business and must make certain decisions based on the same principles that passengers also apply to their personal businesses as well.
In his words, “We must, therefore, strike a balance in the best interest of all parties. So, as you insist on having your rights protected, also do well to remember to honour your responsibilities as clearly stated in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
About The Author
