NCAA Orders Passengers to Switch Off Phones During Flights

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a new directive requiring all air passengers in the country to switch off their mobile phones during flights, particularly at takeoff and landing.

Announcing the decision at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the NCAA Director General, Chris Najomo, said the measure applies across all Nigerian airports and airlines. The order follows a recent controversial clash between a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, and a flight attendant on an Ibom Air aircraft.

According to Najomo, the new rule is intended to end the confusion caused by varying policies across airlines.

“As a takeaway and to avoid ambiguity and confusion, all mobile phones and other portable electric devices should be switched off during the critical stage of flight on all Nigerian airlines. Switch off. Nothing like flight mode any longer,” he declared.

He further directed all Nigerian carriers to update their official documents to reflect this requirement.

“Nigerian air operators are therefore required to amend their operators’ manuals to reflect this requirement and submit to the NCAA for approval,” he said.

Najomo explained that the rule may be reviewed in the future if new technology makes it possible to relax restrictions.

“We remain alert to future reviews of this requirement as aircraft technological enhancement improves,” he stated.

While stressing compliance, he added that enforcement of the policy rests with both crew and passengers.

“It remains the responsibility of the crew to communicate this requirement to the passengers and the responsibility of the passenger to comply with crew instructions,” he said.