In a move set to change in-flight behaviour, the Director General, Civil Aviation, DGCA, Captain Chris Najomo has declared that all mobile phones and portable electronic devices must now be completely switched off during the critical phases of flight.
This declaration was made following an emergency meeting of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee in Abuja.
Captain Najomo also stressed, no more flight mode but a complete switched off.
“All mobile phones and other portable electronic devices should be switched off during at least the critical phase of flights on all Nigerian airlines. Switched off. There’s nothing like flight mode any longer. Must be switched off”.
The meeting, convened in response to rising incidents of unruly passenger behavior and lapses in protocol, carried a clear warning: aviation safety cannot be compromised.
The Director General, Civil Aviation, DGCA, Captain Chris Najomo emphasized that threats to aviation, whether from sabotage, non-compliance by passengers, or gaps in collaboration among agencies, demand a united and accountable response.
Service providers, including FAAN, NAMA, and airlines, have now been directed to step up security drills, revise screening protocols, and ensure transparent and professional handling of incidents.
And for airline operators, the NCAA DG urged, conflict resolution training for crew members will be closely monitored while those who have not complied must return to the drawing board and get it done.
But the most striking directive was aimed squarely at passengers.
Airlines have been instructed to amend their operations manuals to reflect this requirement and submit them for NCAA approval and crews are expected to enforce the rule, while passengers are urged to comply without argument.
To reinforce preparedness, Captain Najomo announced a nationwide mock security drills will take place in Lagos and Abuja next week, with results to be made public.
The DGCA warned unruly passengers: “If you think you can disrupt a flight, we are waiting for you.”
He added that aviation security personnel, law enforcement, and intelligence partners must work seamlessly, sharing information and coordinating rapid response.
At the heart of this, he said, is a shift in mindset, passengers must see airlines as partners in safe travel, not as adversaries.
Participants at the meeting emphasized the need to have a uniform instructions regarding the use of mobile phones and other devices onboard the flight to avoid ugly incidents henceforth.
NCAA’s General Manager, Standards, Mr. Ibinabo Solomon said, there must be rules and consequences.
“There is need for strong rules for unruly conduct and consequences because without that, you are going to have total chaos”.
Director, Public affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu stated that, the incidents of unruly passenger behaviour is not peculiar to Nigeria but efforts are on to address these avoidable incidents headon.
“The lessons that needs to be learnt it could be positive or it could be negative, what we need do is marry all of these things and take that which best works for us. Off course, here in Nigeria, we are not looking to be the worse of other nations, we want the best, the CAA today, has the best regulations in on the continent but we want to move beyond just Africa and be global leaders that is why we take lessons from these Scenerio’s”.
Stakeholders stressed that, aviation security is everyone’s responsibility and safety, depends on discipline, timely information sharing, and respect for protocols.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen