THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed all air passengers in the country to completely switch off their mobile phones during flights, particularly during takeoff and landing.
The announcement was made today in Abuja by the NCAA Director General, Chris Najomo, who explained that the new regulation is aimed at addressing recent controversies and ensuring uniform safety standards across Nigerian airlines.
This directive comes in the wake of a heated altercation between a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, and an Ibom Air flight attendant—an incident that sparked nationwide debate over airline policies and passenger compliance.
Najomo stressed that the rule overrides varying practices previously enforced by different airlines, which had created confusion among travelers.
“To avoid ambiguity and ensure safety, all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices must now be switched off during critical stages of flight. There is no more ‘flight mode’ option,” he said.
He added that Nigerian airlines are required to amend their operations manuals to reflect the updated policy and submit them to the NCAA for approval.
The regulator also noted that while future revisions may be considered as aircraft technology advances, for now, strict compliance is expected.
Crew members are responsible for relaying the directive to passengers, while passengers must adhere to the rule.