Business
NCAA Resolves 70,450 Passenger Rights Cases In 26 Months
The Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) resolved 70, 450 passenger right cases on international flights and 510 domestic cases from 2013 to March 2015, the Director-General, Mr Mukhtar Usman, said.
Usman made the fact known in Abuja on Wednesday during the 2015 Consumer Summit with, the theme, “Consumer Rights and Protection in the Emerging Digital Economy in Africa’’.
Represented by Mr Adamu Abdullahi, Director of Consumer Protection Directorate of NCAA, the director-general said the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) had been collaborating with NCAA in protecting passengers’ rights.
In a paper, ‘’Passengers’ Rights in Online Booking and Ticketing, Usman said: “In 2013, a total number of 327 cases were resolved on domestic flights while 30,067 were resolved on international flights.
“In 2014, a total of 31,063 cases were resolved on international flights while 164 cases were resolved on domestic flights.
“From January to March 2015, a total of 9,320 cases were resolved on international flights, while 19 cases were resolved on domestic flights.’’
He said the Civil Aviation Act 2006 grants NCAA autonomy to carry out safety and economic regulations of the Nigerian aviation industry without undue political interference.
“This has necessitated the need to be more proactive in the protection of passengers’ interests and rights on matters bordering on denied boarding, flight delays and flight cancellations.
“Others are mishandled, damaged, pilfered and lost baggage, personal injury and death as well as various levels of compensation for such service failures,’’ Usman said.
He said that with the use of online booking and ticketing, passengers, no longer visited travel agents to book flights.
“This is because online booking and ticketing is convenient for passengers to find, book and pay for flights on the internet.
“It gives room for quick and easy ways to comparing prices on several airlines before making a choice,’’ Usman said.
He added that Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, Part 19.15.1 prohibits any airline, its agent or a tour operator from publishing misleading advertising that does not disclose the full fare to be paid by passengers, especially through the internet.
Usman said the regulations also prescribe, at least, 25 per cent for passengers on domestic flights and 30 per cent for those on international flights or passenger ticket price in the event of involuntary denied boarding and flight cancellation.
Other requirements are that passengers should be notified, at least, two hours in advance if flights will be re-routed or delayed or if a flight departs before the scheduled time.
The regulation also provides that the passenger be given refreshment, hotel accommodation, transport to and from airport and called or e-mailed when flight is delayed more than one hour or cancelled.
Mrs Dupe Atoki, Director General, CPC advised complainants to first seek redress from the service providers to have value for their money.
According to her, CPC intervenes when the service provider fails to address the issues.
Atoki said the summit was appropriate as everything could be done online but advised that online service providers disclose proper information on their products.
She said the council’s mandate was to protect and promote the interest of Nigerian consumers.
She said the council had eliminated hazardous products from the market and ensured that products and services complied with stan
In a concerted effort to tackle racketeering and reduce inflated transportation costs in the Nigeria’s seaports, Trucks Transit Parks Ltd. (TTP) has trained Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders on the use of its Ètò electronic call-up system.
The training was held recently at Customs Processing Centre (CPC) Auditorium, Apapa, Lagos, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and supported by the leadership of the Joint Association of Licensed Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders (JALCAFF), Apapa Command.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu expressed appreciation to TTP for facilitating the training and emphasized the need for customs agents to take personal ownership of the Ètò booking process.
“I want to thank TTP for this impactful training. I encourage all customs agents to begin doing their own bookings directly. By doing so, they can take back power from the unscrupulous elements exploiting their lack of knowledge, selling tickets at highly inflated prices,” Olomu declared.
He noted that empowering agents with hands-on training was key to dismantling racketeering networks that have plagued access to the ports and frustrated efficient logistics processes.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Apapa Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Emeka Chukwumalu, said the engagement was critical to the ongoing push to reduce cargo transportation costs and ease business operations at the Apapa Port.
According to a freight forwarder, “The training is basically for us to have awareness of the operations of the Ètò call-up system through TTP. We also want to brainstorm on ways to reduce the high cost of cargo transportation in Apapa Port.
“This training opened our eyes to how simple it is to book tickets ourselves. We now know the right steps to follow and how to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.”
Earlier, Head of Operations at TTP, Mr. Irabor Akonoman, talked on common misconceptions about ticket pricing, reaffirming that the cost of Ètò bookings had remained consistent since its inception.
“The official price remains the same since inception. What people are paying higher amounts for is the manipulation by racketeers”.
Towards strengthening small businesses and promoting a more supportive regulatory environment, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says it will hold the 2025 edition of its flagship MSMEs Fair on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The event, themed, “Galvanising MSMEs for Economic Growth and Stability”, will take place at NECA House in Lagos.
According to NECA’s Director-General, Mr Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, the fair seeks to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises with essential tools, resources, and strategic networks to thrive in Nigeria’s challenging business climate.
He emphasised the vital role MSMEs play in national development, describing them as the “lifeblood of Nigeria’s economy.”
Oyerinde noted that the fair is designed to offer entrepreneurs practical solutions to navigate economic uncertainties, regulatory hurdles, and business scalability issues.
A major attraction of this year’s event is the keynote address by the CEO of FATE Foundation, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, a prominent advocate for MSME development.
She is expected to share transformative insights on innovative strategies for sustaining and growing small businesses in Nigeria.
A unique feature of the fair will be interactive sessions with key regulatory bodies. Entrepreneurs will engage directly with agencies responsible for licensing, compliance, taxation, and business registration.
NECA said these sessions aim to demystify bureaucratic processes and foster a more enabling business environment.
It also said the fair will provide a platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit their products and services, connect with potential investors, and explore new markets.
It added that participants would gain critical knowledge on digital transformation, access to finance, and strategies for sustainable business growth.
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· NECA stressed that the fair aligns with its broader mission of promoting enterprise development and economic resilience.
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· “By empowering MSMEs with the right support and information, the organisation aims to stimulate job creation, innovation, and long-term economic stability”, NECA said.
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· The 2025 MSMEs Fair is expected to attract a wide range of stakeholders, including financiers, tech experts, regulators, and industry leaders, all united in advancing the growth of Nigeria’s MSME sector.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, says over two million passengers have been transported on the Blue Line Rail since its launch, while state-run buses move an average of 42,000 commuters daily.
Osiyemi, who disclosed this during the Year 2025 Ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, on Tuesday, noted that the Lagos State Transport Policy, launched in May 2024, was now in its implementation phase, focusing on inclusivity, safety, affordability, and sustainability.
“On rail development, Phase One of the Blue Line (Marina to Mile 2) has served over two million passengers, with Phase Two (Mile 2 to Okokomaiko) in progress.
“Phase One of the Red Line (Agbado to Oyingbo) is now operational with eight stations and additional rolling stocks procured, while Phase two (Oyingbo to link Blue Line at National Theatre) is underway”, he said.
The Commissioner said in the state-owned bus operations, over 60 million commuters have been served since 2019, with daily ridership exceeding 40,000.
He also said plans were on to deploy new buses with Quality Bus Corridors under construction, adding that the Abule=Egba Bus Terminal had also been commissioned.
“For water transport, 15 locally-built Omibus Ferries have been launched and are in operation, with the Ijegun Egba Terminal now open.
“The OMI EKO project, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), will deliver 25 terminals and 78 electric ferries.
“Over 280,000 passengers have used ferry services in the past year, and 12 boats have been upgraded to meet safety standards”, he said.
On road infrastructure and traffic management, the Commissioner said 49 junction improvement projects had been completed, including ongoing ones at Ikorodu, Iju, as well as Allen-Opebi-Toyin axis.
He added that solar-powered Traffic Signal Lights, road markings covering 67.9km, new medians, laybys, and 3,941 parking lots had also been provided.
Additionally, Osiyemi announced that the deployed Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras had detected over 470,000 traffic violations and that the Vehicle Inspection Service issued over one million roadworthiness certificates.
He also said that the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute trained more than 32,000 drivers in the past 13 months.
The event marked the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term, showcasing major strides in the transport sector under the THEMES+ agenda.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos