NCAA blames flight disruptions in Nigeria on shortage of aircraft.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has identified the lack of capacity among Nigerian airlines as the primary cause of frequent flight disruptions and delays. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, highlighted this issue during at an event in Abuja, noting that Nigerian airlines are facing challenges due to a shortage of aircraft.

With a rise in flight delays and cancellations, Achimugu explained that the insufficient number of planes in operation is a key factor behind the disruption. However, he noted that the recent signing of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) practice direction by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, would allow domestic airlines to access aircraft on dry lease, helping to address the problem.

He further mentioned that plans are in place to calibrate Nigeria’s airports as another measure to mitigate flight disruptions.”In Nigeria, we face a capacity issue. We simply don’t have enough aircraft to transport people across the country,” Achimugu said.

He added that disruptions in flight schedules often have a domino effect, impacting routes throughout the day. However, with the Cape Town Convention in place, more aircraft can now be brought into the country to alleviate this challenge.