NCAA Warns Stranded Nigerians Against Protests, Says Disruptions May Persist

• The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has warned Nigerians stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, against joining or staging protests over continuing flight disruptions,

• NCAA said it is engaging Kenya Airways and monitoring the situation as airlines await available landing and departure slots before normal operations can resume, with the disruption classified as a “force majeure” event.

• The authority said the scale of the disruption could delay the restoration of normal flight schedules, while stranded passengers at the airport are being provided refreshments at Gate 23 as they await further information from their airlines.

• The crisis has also affected passengers departing Nigeria for Nairobi, with some travellers reporting repeated rescheduling of flights and uncertainty over when scheduled services will resume.

September 01, () — The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned Nigerians stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, against staging or participating in protests over continuing flight disruptions, saying it may be unable to intervene if any passenger is arrested.

The warning was issued as the disruption continued to affect air travellers between Nigeria and Kenya, with passengers stranded in Nairobi and others in Nigeria reporting repeated delays and rescheduling of flights to the Kenyan capital.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, issued the warning in a post on X on Monday night, saying the authority was engaging Kenya Airways and monitoring developments at the airport.

According to him, airlines were currently waiting for available slots before they could resume normal operations, with the disruption being treated as a “force majeure” event.

“Please, do not stage any protest. If you are arrested, the NCAA would be unable to intervene,” Achimugu said.

He explained that the magnitude of the disruption meant that it could take some time before flight operations returned to normal, urging affected passengers to remain calm while efforts were being made to resolve the situation.

Achimugu also disclosed that refreshments were being provided to stranded passengers at Gate 23 of the Nairobi airport, while the NCAA continued to monitor the situation and engage relevant stakeholders.

The warning followed growing frustration among passengers affected by the disruption, some of whom have reportedly been left uncertain about when they would be able to continue their journeys.

The disruption has also affected passengers scheduled to travel from Nigeria to Nairobi.

Responding to a passenger who complained that his Lagos-Nairobi flight had been repeatedly rescheduled, Achimugu said the NCAA was still monitoring the situation.

He noted that the aircraft scheduled to operate the affected flight had not yet departed Nairobi, making it difficult for the airline to maintain its expected schedule.

Achimugu expressed hope that the airline would provide passengers with clearer and more timely information regarding the status of their flights.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is Kenya’s principal international aviation hub and one of East Africa’s busiest airports.