The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a sweeping directive mandating all air passengers to completely switch off their mobile phones during aircraft take-off and landing, banning the long-standing practice of using “airplane mode” during critical flight operations.
Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, disclosed the new regulation in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, stressing that the rule now applies across all airlines operating within Nigeria.
> “Henceforth, the regulation regarding mobile phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has been unified: ALL PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF DURING THE CRITICAL PHASES OF TAKE-OFF AND LANDING.”
He further directed airlines to immediately update their security programmes to reflect the new standard.
> “No more airplane mode until regulations are reviewed to reflect evolving technological situations,” Achimugu declared.
The announcement comes in the wake of the highly publicized incident involving Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson, whose refusal to switch off her phone — reportedly set on airplane mode — escalated into a dramatic altercation onboard a Lagos-bound flight.
Emmanson was arrested on August 10, 2025, after allegedly refusing crew instructions before take-off and physically assaulting the purser. The following day, she was arraigned in court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility.
The case drew national attention after viral videos showed her being barred from leaving the aircraft and, in a disturbing second clip, being forcefully dragged out of the plane with her body partially exposed.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo condemned the release of the videos, describing it as “grossly unprofessional,” and vowed to sanction those behind the leak.
Prominent voices also weighed in:
Aisha Yesufu, human rights activist, blasted the episode as “selective justice” and warned against criminalizing passengers without due process.
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Lagos-based lawyer, called for a transparent investigation, insisting that regulatory enforcement must not override human dignity.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness seated beside Emmanson gave a formal statement to the NCAA, prompting the agency to launch a full investigation into the matter.
In a surprise twist, the aviation minister later announced the withdrawal of all criminal complaints against Emmanson and confirmed that the controversial lifetime flying ban imposed by Ibom Air had been lifted.
The new NCAA directive is widely seen as an attempt to prevent similar confrontations, bringing Nigeria’s aviation safety protocols in line with stricter international standards while simultaneously reassuring the flying public of passenger rights protections.
PIONEER NEWS 