NCAA Deepens Safety Oversight as Chris Najomo Urges Stricter Visa Checks, Stronger Passenger Protection

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has intensified efforts to reinforce aviation safety, consumer protection, and operational accountability across the sector, as Director General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, called for stricter visa verification processes and stronger compliance with passenger-rights regulations.

Najomo disclosed this during a strategic courtesy visit by a delegation from Wakanow, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Adenike Macaulay, to the Authority’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting underscored the regulator’s renewed determination to tighten safety oversight while closing compliance gaps that expose passengers to travel disruptions, documentation challenges, and weak enforcement of compensation rules.

According to Najomo, stricter verification of passengers’ travel documents—particularly visas—has become urgent amid rising cases of inadmissible travellers, which often result in costly airline penalties, passenger distress, and operational inefficiencies.

He stressed that aviation safety extends beyond aircraft airworthiness and crew certification to include seamless passenger processing, transparent ticketing practices, and strict adherence to consumer-protection regulations. Strengthening these pillars, he noted, will enhance confidence in Nigeria’s aviation system and align local operations with global best practices.

Industry stakeholders view the engagement with Wakanow as part of a broader NCAA strategy to deepen collaboration with travel agencies, airlines, and service providers whose operational decisions directly affect passenger experience. Observers say the Authority’s proactive consultations signal a shift toward preventive regulation—where compliance is strengthened through partnership, monitoring, and early intervention rather than post-incident sanctions.

For travellers, the renewed oversight is expected to translate into clearer complaint-resolution mechanisms, stricter enforcement of refund and compensation obligations, and reduced incidence of denied boarding linked to documentation failures. Consumer-rights advocates argue that consistent enforcement across airlines and travel intermediaries will be critical to delivering meaningful improvements.

As passenger traffic continues to rise across Nigeria’s domestic and international routes, the NCAA’s strengthened engagement with industry players highlights a firm regulatory message: aviation growth must be matched by uncompromising safety standards, transparent business conduct, and unwavering respect for passenger rights.

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority deepens safety oversight as DG Chris Najomo urges stricter visa verification and stronger consumer-protection compliance during strategic engagement with Wakanow leadership in Abuja.