The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a strong directive to both local and international airlines operating in Nigeria, mandating strict compliance with the First Need compensation policy for passengers whose checked luggage is short-landed.
Short-landed baggage refers to checked luggage that fails to arrive on the same flight as the passenger and is instead delivered on a subsequent flight. According to Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 2023, passengers affected by this situation are entitled to compensation to meet their immediate needs.
Domestic passengers are to be paid ₦10,000, while international passengers are entitled to $170. For international airlines, this amount is either stipulated in their terms of carriage or defaults to the $170 payment if not otherwise defined. The regulation aims to support travellers in purchasing essentials while awaiting the arrival of their delayed baggage.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, Michael Achimugu warned that the Authority will begin sanctioning non-compliant airlines. Regional managers of domestic airlines attended the meeting, where Achimugu emphasised that excuses for non-compliance would no longer be tolerated.
“This engagement may be the last time we discuss this issue. The regulations are clear and we’ve issued multiple communications. Yet, compliance remains low,” he said.
Achimugu noted that some station managers claimed ignorance of the regulation, which prompted the NCAA to initiate the meeting in a bid to address the challenges and foster awareness.
“If a passenger’s baggage fails to arrive on the same flight, the airline must pay the stipulated compensation and deliver the bag to the passenger’s address within seven days at no extra cost. Yet, many passengers, unaware of their rights, are forced to return to the airport to retrieve their bags,” he said, urging the airlines to uphold international standards and treat consumers fairly.
While commending the efforts of domestic airlines despite their operational constraints and narrow profit margins, Achimugu insisted that adherence to consumer protection regulations remains non-negotiable.
Also speaking, the senior special assistant to the director general of civil aviation (DGCA), Ifueko Abdulmalik explained that where airlines delay the delivery of baggage for extended periods, passengers are entitled to make additional claims, provided they present receipts for items purchased due to the inconvenience.
Airline representatives who spoke at the meeting appealed to NCAA to also press the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other terminal operators to urgently repair faulty infrastructure, particularly broken conveyor belts, which they say contribute to baggage mishandling and processing delays.
Part 19 of the CAR 2023 comprehensively outlines passenger rights in various air travel scenarios, including flight delays, cancellations, denied boarding due to overbooking and baggage-related issues such as short-landed or mishandled luggage.
The NCAA reiterated that it remains committed to ensuring airlines operate within global best practices, emphasising that protecting passengers’ rights is paramount.
