NCAA orders Ibom Air to compensate passengers compared to the canceled flight

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) ordered Ibom Air to compensate the passengers affected by the cancellation of the airline flight on Friday 5 September 2025.

The directive followed a complaint from one passenger on X, who accused Ibom Air of little service.

The passenger wrote: “After moving a 3:30 flight to 5:20, you still call your customers to go down and collect their luggage.

“You monopolized the system as the only airline that goes to Akwa Ibom, yet frustrated the same people you should serve. Too bad for you.”

Responding on Friday evening, the spokesman for the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, revealed that the flight has been deleted for a technical problem.

Achimugu said: “There was an initial delay with the operating aircraft in the morning due to technical. This is the force majeure.

“That delay had a chain effect on all the other routes served by that aircraft and it was the reason to reprogram the flight from 15:30 to 17:50.

“The airline is ready to fly, but that delay means that Uyo airport, which is an airport at sunset, would be closed when they arrive. Consequently, it is safer to cancel the flight and reprogram for tomorrow.”

He noticed that he had spoken with the management of the airline, adding that accommodation in the hotel were provided to some passengers.

He said that all passengers would receive and -mail on Friday evening with the offer of a compensation of 25%.

The NCAA spokesman said: “Flight breaks occur. Where the airline would be sanctioned, it is if they do not comply with part 19 of the NCAA regulations, for the treatment of passengers. In this case, this cure is provided.

“The original flight time was 15:30, not at noon. Ibom Air has one of the best punctual performance records in the sector.

“One of the reasons why Nigeria has safe skies despite all criticism is because, for the slightest risk for safety, planes would never have been authorized to fly.

“We prefer to guarantee the safety of life and delay some flights, rather than putting life at risk because people have to fly. Only the living would like tomorrow.”

Achimugu, then apologized to all the affected passengers, adding that the more aircraft it is expected to be lined up in Nigeria, “and most of the airlines would have rescue aircraft for situations like this very soon”.

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