Enough of NCAA’s Rhetoric

Last week’s warning by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to airlines over delays in refunding passengers, appears to be mere rhetoric

NCAA, according to its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, expressed concern over a specific case of delayed refund involving Air Peace. He cited Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations, which mandates that refunds for cash purchases must be immediate and in cash, while refunds for tickets purchased via electronic channels must be completed within 14 days. 

Acknowledging the challenges faced by airlines, Achimugu highlighted the efforts made by the NCAA to foster a supportive relationship between regulators and operators, noting significant improvements in their collaboration. 

However, he stressed that non-compliance with refund timelines undermines the regulator’s goodwill and the passengers’ trust.

While apologising to passengers who have experienced delays, Achimugu revealed plans to advocate a reduction in the refund time frame from 14 to seven days, describing it as a feasible step toward delivering world-class service to Nigerian travellers.

As serious as Achimugu appeared, his words held no significance as past warnings were ignored by airlines.

Lately, there is nothing the NCAA has warned the airlines against in the past that they are not perpetrating. Whether it is deceptive departure time scheduling, flight delays and others, no sanction has ever been meted out to them to serve as a deterrent, thereby exposing the agency to frequent ridicule.

 It cannot in all sincerity feign ignorance to the plight of Nigerians in the hands of airlines. The airlines seem to be untouchable and impervious to change.

Institutional failure has always been described as the bane of sustainable development in the country.

In today’s governance assessment scheme, how well the citizens are satis­fied with government’s service delivery is a critical barometer for determining whether or not a particular administra­tion has succeeded or failed.

The NCAA should stop the rhetoric and save air passengers who are now at the mercy of airlines.