The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that it will publicly call out airlines that cancel flights and leave passengers stranded at airports without offering accommodation.

In a post shared on X, NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu reminded airlines that the law requires them to provide hotel stays for passengers stranded between 10 PM and 12 midnight. He stressed that any airline ignoring this rule will be named and shamed.

According to Achimugu, if passengers are left at the airport until midnight before a flight is canceled, the airline must provide hotel accommodation. Regulations require that passengers stuck between 10 PM and 4 AM be taken care of.

He added that airline staff disappearing and leaving NCAA officials to deal with angry passengers will no longer be tolerated.

While recognizing the challenges airlines face in Nigeria, Achimugu emphasized that companies that want to operate must follow rules and provide good service.

Airlines should aim for excellence for the sake of their passengers and their own reputation. He warned that airlines cannot put NCAA officials at risk unnecessarily, as these officials are there to support the business and protect passengers’ rights.

The NCAA will enforce regulations strictly, applying full sanctions for any violations. Rules will not be ignored.

Following instructions from the federal government and the Minister of Aviation, the NCAA will now start naming and shaming airlines that fail to follow these guidelines.