In recent time, rising concerns over disruptive passenger conduct has negatively impacted on safety and disrupted flight operations, tarnishing Nigeria’s aviation image.
The body said that the strategy aligns with the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for enhanced staff training and improved public engagement across the industry.
Chairman of the NIPR Aviation Hub, Mr. Basil Agboarumi said that key components of the proposed strategy include enhanced staff training and capacity building, nationwide training programmes for airline and airport staff on de-escalation, conflict resolution, and customer service excellence, specialised modules covering cultural sensitivity, stress management, and crisis communication.
It will also include public awareness and passenger education, a nationwide campaign to promote courteous travel behaviours, pre-flight announcements, airport signage, and digital content highlighting penalties for misconduct.
The rest are: strengthened enforcement and legal measures, implementation of a national No-Fly List for habitual offenders, strict enforcement of NCAA regulations, including fines, flight bans, and prosecution for unruly acts.
Also, the programme will ensure an industry-wide collaboration, the establishment of an Aviation Passenger Conduct Task Force to track trends and recommend policy updates and regular stakeholder engagements with airlines, security agencies, and the NCAA.
Agboarumi further said: ‘The safety and comfort of all passengers and crew remain our top priority. Our approach combines proactive education, effective communication, and firm enforcement to foster a culture of respect and compliance in Nigeria’s air travel space’.
The NIPR Aviation Hub commended the NCAA, FAAN, and the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development for their leadership on the issue and urged swift adoption of the measures.
It called on airlines and the airports authorities to prioritise staff training and adopt standardised response protocols just as it urged passengers to comply with aviation regulations and report cases of misconduct.
Agboarumi also described the role of the media as indispensable in the crusade to ensure that the Nigeria aviation sector is sanitise adding that the media support in public awareness campaigns for safer and more orderly travel is needed most now.
