Nosa Aituamen
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently fired a warning shot across the bows of international airlines operating in the country, following a string of passenger complaints about abrupt deportations from transit points en route to their final destinations.
The scenario is as troubling as it is humiliating: Nigerians board flights with what they believe are valid travel documents, only to be halted mid-journey and returned home, sometimes after brief detentions because of overlooked visa or entry requirements at transit stops.
According NCAA’s Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, these incidents are not only distressing to passengers but also damaging to the image of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He stated firmly that “such practices are unacceptable,” emphasizing that airlines must ensure passengers are fully aware of any travel document issues before departure.
Regulations outlined in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 (Part 19.21.1.1) make it clear: airlines and their agents are obligated to alert travellers to potential entry or transit restrictions.
Airlines failing to comply now face regulatory sanctions ranging from fines to possible suspension of flight operations. The message is loud and unequivocal, the NCAA has drawn a line.
But in an industry driven by interwoven responsibilities, where does the fault truly lie?
A Tangle of Responsibilities
The immediate past president of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, provided a sobering look at the root causes, drawing from personal experience as a travel consultant.
She recounted how a student traveling from Quebec to Abuja via Milan was detained in Frankfurt after it emerged he lacked a Schengen visa.
The itinerary: booked online for its affordability, included a layover in Milan, a Schengen state. Akporiaye had previously advised the family on a more direct, visa-friendly route via Frankfurt, albeit at a higher cost.
“The cheapest route is not always the best route,” she explained, expressing frustration at passengers who bypass professional advice in search of bargains online.
“That’s why we are professionals. We know these rules.”
In the end, the family incurred additional costs rerouting the stranded student—ironically spending more than they would have on the original, professional itinerary.
She criticized not just online booking choices, but also lapses in visa checks at departure airports, especially by “profilers,” airline or ground staff tasked with vetting travel documents before passengers are cleared for boarding.
“They should have flagged it,” she said. “The passenger should never have been allowed to leave Quebec.”
Akporiaye also cautioned against tarring all travel agents with the same brush, noting that some so-called agents are untrained touts who issue tickets without proper checks or advice.
“If it was a travel agent who booked the woman’s ticket, then that agent is not a professional.”
Finger Pointing at the Profiler’s Desk
The current NANTA President, Yinka Folami, agrees that the ultimate responsibility rests with the airlines’ profilers.
“It is gross negligence if a passenger is boarded and later deported,” he said. “They have all the tools to verify visa requirements—there’s no excuse.”
However, he also acknowledged that in some instances, tickets are issued without agents ever seeing the passenger’s visa, relying instead on passengers to understand their own status.
“It’s not a legal requirement to present a visa to an agent before buying a ticket,” he said, adding that while customer education is essential, airlines must remain vigilant because they carry the final risk.
The Missing Data and the Broader Picture
From a regulatory standpoint, Avaero Capital Partners analyst, Ms. Sindy Foster, questioned whether NCAA is addressing the core issues with enough clarity or transparency.
“Where is the data?” she asked, noting that proper scrutiny is difficult without access to detailed records.
Ms Foster has long been skeptical of the aviation sector’s reported numbers, citing past inconsistencies between alleged passenger volumes and real-world airport activity.
She believes the visa debacle reveals a broader systemic issue: poor communication, lack of accountability, and a reluctance to embrace real reform.
“The industry is acting like a starving man pretending to be okay,” she said. “Will we wait until we collapse before asking what’s wrong?”
The Avaero Capital analyst was also adamant that passengers share in the blame. “They have the most to lose, so they should make more effort to educate themselves.”
Still, she admitted airlines have an obligation to check documentation at the point of departure, and should face penalties when they fail.
Between Regulation and Reality
But for some, like aviation stakeholder Mr. Percival Uwechue, the narrative is not so black-and-white. “Airlines don’t exist to make passengers miserable,” he said with a wry chuckle.
He emphasized that final entry decisions lie with destination or transit countries, and even with best efforts, airlines sometimes face last-minute decisions beyond their control.
“Airlines do their best to comply with entry requirements, but countries can deny entry for many reasons,” he pointed out.
He urged the NCAA to sit down with airline operators, examine internal records of denied boardings, and create a collaborative plan, rather than simply issuing threats from above.
The Take Home
The unfolding saga of Nigerian travelers stranded mid-journey points to a systemic failure spanning passengers, travel agents, airline staff, and regulatory bodies.
It is a cautionary tale about the cost of cutting corners and the importance of due diligence in international travel.
The NCAA’s firm stance may mark a turning point but only if all stakeholders take responsibility, not just for what happens at check-in, but for the entire journey that follows.