A United States-based aviation consultant and aircraft broker, Olufemi Adeniji, has called on Nigerian aviation regulators to strengthen passenger protection measures and enforce stricter sanctions against airlines over persistent flight disruptions.
Adeniji, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Nigame, an aircraft brokerage company based in the United States, expressed concern over what he described as recurring operational failures by some domestic airlines, saying passengers often bear the consequences without adequate support or compensation.
Speaking in Lagos, Adeniji recounted his experience during a domestic flight journey on May 13, 2026, alleging that passengers travelling from Lagos to Asaba were stranded for several hours due to aircraft availability challenges.
According to him, the flight, initially scheduled for an early morning departure, eventually left late at night, causing significant inconvenience to travellers.
“Passengers were left confused and frustrated for hours with little information about what was happening,” he said.
“For a long period, people remained at the airport waiting for updates. There was inadequate communication and no meaningful effort to keep travellers informed about the situation.”
He further claimed that the disruptions extended beyond a single route, affecting passengers travelling to several destinations across the country.
“From what I observed, delays were experienced on multiple routes. Many passengers heading to other cities also faced uncertainty regarding their departure times,” Adeniji stated.
The aviation consultant warned that repeated flight delays and cancellations could weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry and expose operational shortcomings among domestic carriers.
“Airlines must have sufficient aircraft and qualified personnel to meet their schedules. Operational inefficiencies affect businesses, families and the overall perception of the aviation sector,” he said.
Adeniji revealed that the delay had personal consequences for his family, noting that his children were unable to attend their grandmother’s burial ceremony because of the disruption.
“My children missed an important family event that can never be repeated. Many other passengers also missed business engagements, medical appointments and significant personal commitments,” he said.
While acknowledging that delays can occur in aviation operations worldwide, he stressed that airlines have a responsibility to communicate promptly and provide support to affected passengers.
“Passengers deserve transparency, professionalism and respect. Delays may sometimes be unavoidable, but airlines must handle them responsibly and ensure travellers are properly informed,” he added.
Adeniji urged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to investigate the recurring delays and cancellations experienced by air travellers.
He also proposed stronger consumer protection measures, including sanctions for excessive delays, compensation packages for affected passengers, hotel accommodation for prolonged disruptions, transportation support and the transfer of passengers to alternative airlines where necessary.
“If an airline cannot operate a scheduled flight within a reasonable timeframe, passengers should not be left to suffer the consequences alone,” he said.
“There should be compensation, accommodation where required and alternative arrangements to help passengers complete their journeys. The goal should be to protect travellers and restore confidence in the aviation system.”
He maintained that stronger regulatory enforcement would encourage airlines to improve operational efficiency and ensure passenger rights are respected.
“Passenger rights should not exist only on paper. Regulators must actively enforce existing rules and hold airlines accountable whenever operational failures occur,” Adeniji stated.
