The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered Ibom Air to compensate passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the cancellation of a scheduled service on Friday, September 5, 2025.
The directive followed complaints on social media from travellers who alleged poor handling of the flight, which was originally set for 3:30 p.m. but rescheduled to 5:20 p.m. before passengers were later told to collect their luggage.
In response, the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the disruption was the result of a technical fault on the aircraft assigned to the route earlier that day.
He described the incident as force majeure, explaining that the fault affected other flights operated by the same aircraft.
Achimugu said Ibom Air had provided hotel accommodation to some stranded passengers and would issue emails to all affected travellers offering 25 per cent compensation.
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He noted that airlines face sanctions only when they fail to comply with Part 19 of the NCAA regulations, which require care for passengers during disruptions.
According to him, Ibom Air met that obligation and remains one of the country’s most punctual carriers.
Achimugu also stressed that safety was the priority, adding that Nigeria’s airspace remains secure because aircraft are not cleared for operation once any risk is detected.