The Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) has called on the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on unruly passenger behaviour at airports.
The Association warns that the growing trend poses a major threat to safety and security in the sector.
In a letter signed by its National President, comrade Sunday Ugbeikwu says the association expressed concern over recent incidents involving prominent figures and ordinary passengers who disrupted airport operations.
He noted that such actions undermine the authority of aviation agencies and embolden others to follow suit.
NAFSA attributed the surge in disruptive behaviour to weak enforcement of regulations, lenient penalties in past cases, and mounting economic pressures, stressing that the culture of impunity must end.
It commended recent interventions by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), but insisted that offenders should face decisive punishment to serve as deterrents.
The association warned that with the festive season approaching, airports may experience more cases of unruly conduct due to increased passenger traffic.
It urged aviation authorities and airlines to strengthen staff deployment, enforce discipline, improve conflict de-escalation training, and expedite rulings on cases to prevent escalation.
He said, “As gatekeepers of safety, we predict the months ahead will be tougher and more challenging if this menace is not decisively tackled”.
He emphasized that restoring order and discipline was crucial to safeguarding aviation operations and expressed NAFSA’s readiness to collaborate with government and industry stakeholders in addressing the problem.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen