The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, has reiterated that all air passengers in Nigeria must switch off their mobile phones and other portable electronic devices during aircraft take-off and landing.
Capt. Najomo issued the directive during an emergency meeting of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC) held in Abuja, stressing that the two phases of flight are the most critical.
“Global aviation statistics confirm that most incidents occur either during take-off or landing. That is why passengers must be fully attentive and free of distractions,” Najomo said.
According to him, active electronic devices can interfere with aircraft communication and navigation systems, while passengers engrossed in their gadgets may miss crucial safety instructions from the crew.
To enforce compliance, the NCAA has directed all Nigerian airlines to immediately review and update their Operations Manuals, making the rule explicit and submitting the revised documents for approval.
Najomo also warned that passengers who fail to comply with the safety rule risk facing penalties under civil aviation regulations.
“When we insist that passengers switch off their devices, it is not to inconvenience them. Safety comes first in aviation, and everyone on board has a role to play,” he said.
The NCAA, he assured, will continue to intensify monitoring to ensure airlines strictly enforce the directive as part of efforts to keep Nigerian air travel safe
Why the rule matters:
Most aviation incidents occur during take-off or landing, making these the most critical phases of flight. Passengers need to remain fully attentive and free of distractions at these times.
Penalties for non-compliance
The NCAA boss further warned that passengers who fail to comply risk facing sanctions under civil aviation regulations. “When we insist that passengers switch off their devices, it is not to inconvenience them. Safety comes first in aviation, and everyone on board has a role to play,” he said.
He assured that the authority would intensify monitoring to ensure airlines enforce the directive consistently, adding that safety will remain the NCAA’s top priority.
With this renewed enforcement, Capt. Najomo emphasized that passenger cooperation remains essential for safe air travel in Nigeria.
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