Passengers booked on Ibom Air’s Friday flight to Uyo expected a straightforward trip, but the day turned sour when the airline disrupted their plans.
First, Ibom Air shifted the 3:30 p.m. flight to 5:20 p.m.
Then, to passengers’ frustration, staff told them to collect their luggage because the flight would no longer operate.
NCAA Steps In
As frustration mounted, one passenger took to X and criticised the airline openly.
He accused Ibom Air of exploiting its position as the only carrier flying to Akwa Ibom and of neglecting customers.
His words struck a chord: “You’ve monopolised the system, yet you frustrate the very people you should be serving.”
The complaint quickly gained attention, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) stepped in to address the uproar.
The NCAA’s spokesman, Michael Achimugu, explained that a technical fault on the aircraft disrupted its earlier schedule.
He classified the problem as “force majeure” and stressed that safety must come first.
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Because of the earlier delay, Achimugu said, the aircraft could not reach Uyo before sunset.
Since Uyo operates only during daylight hours, the regulator insisted that Ibom Air cancel the service.
“It is safer to cancel and reschedule than to risk lives,” he explained.
Compensation Promised
To soften the blow, Ibom Air arranged hotel accommodation for some stranded travellers.
Moreover, the airline promised to send every affected passenger an email offering 25 per cent compensation that same evening.
The NCAA clarified that airlines face sanctions only when they ignore passenger-care rules.
In this case, Achimugu argued, Ibom Air had complied by providing both shelter and reimbursement.
He also defended the airline’s broader track record as one of Nigeria’s most punctual carriers.
“Safety remains our priority,” Achimugu emphasised.
“Flights can wait, but lives cannot.”
Looking ahead, he revealed that more aircraft will enter Nigeria’s aviation market in the coming months.
With this expansion, the NCAA expects airlines to reduce delays and deliver smoother travel for passengers.
