The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has alerted air travellers to expect possible flight delays and cancellations as the rainy season begins across the country, warning that changing weather conditions could disrupt flight operations.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos on the sidelines of Ethiopian Airlines’ 80th anniversary celebration, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, said that although airlines have recorded improved on-time performance in recent months, the gains may be tested by seasonal weather challenges.
“The numbers are impressive and encouraging, especially because immediately after the festive period, there was a drop in passenger traffic. The number of disruptions has improved compared to the last quarter of last year,” Achimugu said.
“However, we are entering the rainy season, so there is an expectation that there will be disruptions.”
He explained that heavy rains, thunderstorms, and poor visibility—common features of Nigeria’s rainy season—are likely to pose operational difficulties for airlines, potentially leading to delays, cancellations, and rescheduling of flights.
Achimugu illustrated the reality of such disruptions with a personal experience during a recent trip.
“I experienced a cancellation, a lengthy delay, and then a slight delay before I finally got here. So, these things are to be expected. There are also other factors that contribute to disruptions,” he added.
Despite the anticipated challenges, the NCAA expressed optimism about the outlook for the aviation sector in 2026, noting that ongoing efforts by domestic airlines to expand their fleets could help improve service reliability over time.
Achimugu pointed to the Nigerian Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit (NAAIS), hosted by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, as a key platform where airlines secured deals to boost capacity and strengthen operations.
On the controversy surrounding allegations of airfare price-fixing raised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), the NCAA spokesman said his office had yet to receive any official report on the matter.
“Well, the FCCPC did not submit their report to my office, so I don’t know their findings. But I disagreed with the reasons given by some operators for the hike in airfares during December, particularly the claim that it was due to taxes. I still stand by that position,” he said.
Achimugu also highlighted persistent communication gaps between airlines and passengers, describing it as a major issue affecting customer satisfaction within the industry.
“There is always a gap between what is happening in reality, what the airlines are going through, and what passengers understand,” he noted.
He urged airline operators to improve transparency and proactively inform passengers about delays and cancellations to reduce frustration and misunderstandings.
The NCAA further disclosed that more passengers are now utilising its complaint portal to seek redress for service failures, while alternative channels such as email and social media have been provided to address accessibility challenges.