Following a recent altercation on an Ibom Air flight, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a new directive requiring all passengers to completely switch off their mobile phones during flights.
At a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja, NCAA Director General Chris Najomo announced that passengers must turn off their phones during the critical phases of flight, specifically takeoff and landing, at all Nigerian airports.
This move aims to eliminate the confusion caused by varying airline policies on mobile device usage.
“From now on, all mobile phones and portable electronic devices must be switched off completely during the critical stages of flight on all Nigerian carriers. Flight mode will no longer be accepted,” Najomo emphasized.
The directive comes after the recent high-profile incident involving passenger Comfort Emmanson and an Ibom Air flight attendant, which has sparked widespread debate across the country.
Najomo further instructed Nigerian airlines to update their operational manuals to reflect this requirement and submit the revisions to the NCAA for approval.
He also noted that as aircraft technology advances, the rules may be reviewed in the future, but for now, strict compliance is mandatory.
“The flight crew is responsible for informing passengers of this requirement, and passengers must adhere to crew instructions at all times,” he concluded.
