The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned Ms. Comfort Emmanson and a member of the Ibom Air cabin crew, Juliana Edward, for further investigation into an incident that occurred aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on August 10.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, disclosed this on Tuesday during a question-and-answer session at the Emergency National Civil Aviation Security Committee and Stakeholders Meeting held in Abuja.
According to Achimugu, both Ms. Emmanson and the crew member have been invited to appear before the Authority for questioning. He confirmed that he had already spoken with Ms. Emmanson earlier that day.
“They will be here tomorrow (Wednesday),” he said, adding that the Authority is determined to gather all the facts surrounding the case.
Reports suggest that although the disagreement onboard was settled before the aircraft landed in Lagos, Emmanson, who went to the restroom at Murtala Muhammed Airport, was the last passenger to disembark from the aircraft. Achimugu clarified that the pilot did not call security officers upon arrival since the matter seemed resolved during the flight.
He assured the public that the NCAA would ensure transparency in its investigation.
At the same meeting, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, linked the rise in cases of unruly behaviour in Nigeria’s aviation sector to a decline in discipline among both passengers and airline staff.
He stressed the need for strict adherence to professional standards and commended the NCAA for taking decisive actions to maintain order and safety. The senator also urged other aviation agencies to support the NCAA in enforcing regulations and protecting the industry’s integrity.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, announced a new directive requiring all mobile phones and portable electronic devices to be completely switched off during flights.
He explained that the long-practised use of “flight mode” will no longer be allowed.
“All mobile phones, I repeat, all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices should be switched off during at least the critical phases of flight on all Nigerian airlines. I repeat, it must be switched off going forward. There is nothing like flight mode any longer,” Najomo said firmly.
He directed Nigerian airlines to amend their operations manuals to reflect this policy change and submit the revisions to the NCAA for approval.
Najomo further noted that the Authority would embark on a wide public enlightenment campaign to educate passengers on their responsibilities. He said the campaign would run on radio, television, and other media platforms to raise awareness about safety rules and acceptable conduct onboard aircraft.
According to him, stricter enforcement is necessary because rising security concerns, deliberate acts of sabotage, and non-compliance with aviation protocols pose serious risks to Nigeria’s aviation system.
“The threats we face in aviation require a decisive, united, and accountable response. We cannot continue with business as usual,” he stressed.
The NCAA boss also ordered airline operators to ensure that their staff undergo adequate training in conflict resolution, noting that some carriers have not provided their personnel with proper tools to handle disputes with passengers.
“We are going to start checking that you do adequate training. If you have not done so, go back and get this done. We will enforce it,” Najomo warned.
As part of new measures, Najomo revealed that the NCAA will conduct a mock emergency response drill next week in Lagos and Abuja. He said the outcome would be made public to demonstrate the Authority’s commitment to safety and transparency.
The NCAA emphasised that its new directive and enforcement measures are part of efforts to restore discipline, improve professionalism, and protect Nigeria’s aviation sector from emerging risks.
