The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a strict directive requiring passengers to switch off phones during take-off and landing.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection.
He revealed the update in a post shared via his official X account.
According to him, the rule now applies uniformly across all airlines operating in Nigeria.
It emphasizes that the critical phases of take-off and landing demand full compliance for safety reasons.
“ALL PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF DURING THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF TAKE-OFF AND LANDING,” Achimugu wrote.
He added that airlines must immediately adjust their security and safety manuals to reflect the new instruction.
“No more airplane mode until regulations are reviewed to reflect evolving technological situations,” he noted.
This means passengers can no longer rely on airplane mode during those periods.
Instead, devices must be completely powered down to ensure strict compliance.
The directive comes shortly after a heated incident involving Ibom Air and a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson.
She had allegedly refused to switch off her phone on a flight from Uyo to Lagos.
The situation escalated and, upon landing, turned into a scuffle involving airline staff. Emmanson was arrested on August 10 and charged with unruly conduct as well as assaulting crew members.
Ibom Air then imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on her, sparking nationwide debate.
The matter eventually shifted to the courts. Emmanson was held at Kirikiri Prison during the case, which drew significant public attention.
However, last week, an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court dismissed the charges after Ibom Air formally withdrew its complaint.
As a result, Emmanson was discharged and released from custody.
Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo later confirmed the resolution, which was supported by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
The NCAA also reassured that the rules could be reviewed in the future as aviation technology evolves. For now, however, safety remains the top priority.
