Worried by the losses and harsh conditions experienced by air travellers due to persistent flight delays and cancellations in the country, the Senate directed its Committee on Aviation to summon the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to ascertain and proffer a lasting solution to the incidents.
The Senate also called on the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), airline operators in Nigeria, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss extensively to enhance the efficiency of air travel in Nigeria.
The resolution follows a motion presented by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (APC, Oyo North) on Wednesday, who highlighted various reports across print, electronic, and social media about the increasing frequency of flight delays and cancellations.
He expressed concern over the rise of such disruptions, particularly as air travel is crucial for business, official purposes, and time-sensitive appointments.
Senator Abdulfatai emphasised that these delays and cancellations are detrimental to the socio-economic growth of the country, warning that efforts to diversify the economy and attract foreign direct investment would be undermined if Nigeria’s aviation industry fails to meet international best practices.
He lamented that despite the existence of Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Regulations of 2023, providing consumer protection in the aviation sector, enforcement remains a challenge.
Arguing further, Buhari disclosed that Nigerians are unaware that they are entitled to be compensated for time lost due to unnecessary delays. He called on the NCAA to enforce this regulation to ensure that airline operators fulfil their responsibilities.
Lending his weight to the motion, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro gave an account of how he met some lawmakers who passed the night at the airport due to sudden rescheduled flights.
He insisted on compensation for affected persons: “Nigerian airports are the only airports where flights are delayed without prior announcement, apology, or compensation.”
“It is time we take very strong stands on these issues. It shows that our problem is with our regulatory agencies.”
The Benue South lawmaker urged the Senate to ensure that the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance sees to the implementation of its resolutions.
In what he described as an unjust trend between air passengers and operators, Senator Aminu Abbas bemoaned the situation where travellers are made to pay extra whenever they arrive late to the airport, whereas the operators do not pay anything as compensation when they cancel or delay passengers’ flights.
Amid the condemning remarks of the senators, Senator Victor Umeh entreated his colleagues not to apportion all the blame on the airline operators.
The Anambra Central lawmaker urged the Senate to consider the state of airport infrastructures, the harsh business environment, and unfavourable weather conditions, which he attributed to the problems plaguing Nigeria’s air transport sector.
Umeh’s submission also gained the support of Rivers South East Senator Barinada Mpigi, who said that airlines do not intentionally disrupt flight schedules, but that this is largely due to the factors highlighted by Senator Umeh.
“Though I support the motion, we also need to look at the economic reasons. Most of these airlines are playing it safe, most of them due to weather, while some airports don’t have the needed infrastructure,” Mpigi remarked.
In its resolution, the lawmakers held that necessary compensation for delayed flights is often ignored, violating international best practices.
They called for penalties for flight cancellations to hold airlines accountable.
The Senate, presided over by the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, voted in favour of the motion and directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor the implementation of all resolutions to ensure proper action is taken.
The Sun Nigeria
