The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a new directive requiring all passengers to completely switch off their mobile phones during aircraft take-off and landing phases.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, announced on Tuesday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account that regulations on the use of phones and other electronic devices during flights in Nigeria have now been harmonized.
The announcement follows an emergency meeting with key aviation industry stakeholders held earlier on Tuesday. While specific details about the implementation and enforcement mechanisms are yet to be fully disclosed, the directive appears to be part of broader safety measures for Nigerian airspace.
Aviation experts have long maintained that electronic devices, particularly those with cellular capabilities, can potentially interfere with aircraft navigation and communication systems during critical flight phases. The NCAA's harmonization of these regulations aligns with international aviation safety standards practiced in many countries worldwide.
This directive comes amid increased scrutiny of aviation protocols following several high-profile incidents in Nigerian aviation in recent months, including the widely reported Ibom Air passenger incident that resulted in NCAA summoning both crew members and the passenger involved.
The NCAA is expected to release more comprehensive details about the implementation and enforcement of this directive in the coming days, including potential penalties for non-compliance.
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