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No fewer than 68 passengers escaped death as an Enugu Airlines plane crash-landed at the Benin Airport on Thursday. Very Nigerian gathered that the aircraft with registration number 5N-ENR had 68 passengers on board apart from the crew members. A source at the Benin Airport who pleaded anonymity said that the aircraft was on an Enugu-Benin-Lagos commercial flight when the incident happened. The source further volunteered that the aircraft overshot the runway and entered the nearby bush. “The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAN) immediately swung into action, and all the passengers were evacuated. No casualty was recorded,” the source disclosed. The source could not disclose the actual number of crew members aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident

Officials of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria have appealed to the Federal Government to rescue the institution from the present situation of decay facilities and poor expansion drive, which has limited the admission of students pilots to twenty five per session. The Rector of NCAT, Dr. Danjuma Adamu Ismaila said while addressing a press conference in his office, that with the support of the Federal Government, TETFund and Public Private Participation (PPP) in the drive to enhance the facilities of the College, it will go a long way to address the pitiable condition of the institution. According to him, “lack of modern aircrafts for training and other infrastructural facilities as factors limiting expansion, and pilot students enrolment in the college”, while adding, “actually the challenge is funding”. He said, “thank God, we have many source of funds now. We have the Federal Government, we have our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), we have our TETFund now, it’s coming, and then there is also support from the Ministry”. “So, these are some of our sources of funding, but some of them are not performing. So, if all of them were performing, then fine and good, but we are managing with the situation. Actually, we wish some of our critical infrastructures; one of our aircraft—TBM series, it’s now grounded because lack of funds to reactivate it. And we also need additional aircraft.” Besides , Ismaila pointed out another challenge facing the College, stressing that “we are facing is excessive demand for pilot training all over the country.” According to Dr. Ismaila, “we have limited capacity to admit. We can only admit maximum of 25 in a class, then after six month, you can admit another 25. But, this is the overall general demand for the country of about 200 million”. ” So what we do is that after giving admission, the first 25 that paid, they’re guaranteed for the classrooms. And that’s why we call it, first come first serve basis, but despite that, there are many people waiting to be admitted, and to be listed in our classrooms. So this is the situation we are having and one of the challenge that we are facing. But, if can have more additional aircrafts for training, okay, definitely we are going to have more intake”, he added. Ismaila also lamented over the rate of staff leaving the college for other greener pastures, as ” most of our staff are running to the industry now.” ” Because the salary we are paying them is not commensurate with what is being paid in the industry. They are running to other organizations in the industry because there is higher pay there”, he stressed. Meanwhile , despite the shortcomings, NCAT boss explained that the management of the college has continued to maintained the available facilities in the College to meet the demands of the institution and standards. He said that because of the reputation of NCAT in the Aviation industry and quality of trained pilots produced by the College, it has attracted continued to attract admissions from overseas student pilots. “So we have started reaching out to our neighboring West African countries and other East African countries. So far, it has started yielding results. As at last year, I think we have almost about 100 number of participants from West Africa and South Africa”, he said. “Some of them, from Niger, Gambia, Sierra Leone; In fact, in two weeks time, I think there are some coming from is it Gambia or Sierra Leone? About 18 of them are coming. So we have all what it takes to generate participations from African countries, and that will give us revenue in hard currency”, Ismaila noted. He added, “so, if we can invest more in the facilities, I’m telling you, Nigeria has a lot we can benefit from the college and we can generate a lot of hard currency. And also we can reduce what we call capital flight. People don’t need to go outside to do some training. They can stay here and do it. Other West African countries can come here and do it, and they pay in dollars. And that is an income to Nigerian Government”. Source – The Guardian

Domestic airline, Max Air, paid ₦182,099,018.88 in ticket refunds to 956 passengers during the second quarter of 2026, according to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The refunds, covering the three-month period between April and June 2026, represent a significant financial response to passenger refund claims handled by the airline during the quarter. The NCAA disclosed the figure in a statement by Michael Achimugu, Director, Consumer Protection and Public Relations, while acknowledging the refunds made by the airline. However, the regulatory authority said it expects Max Air and other domestic operators to resolve passenger refund claims more quickly and in accordance with existing aviation regulations. According to Achimugu who commented on his official ‘X’ account, the NCAA appreciates and acknowledges the refunds paid by Max Air to the affected passengers. “While this is appreciated and acknowledged, we look forward to quicker resolution of passenger refund claims in line with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023,” he said. The statement places the refund payments within the wider framework of Nigeria’s aviation consumer protection regime. For passengers, ticket refunds are a critical part of the relationship between airlines and their customers, particularly when flights are cancelled, delayed, rescheduled or otherwise disrupted. Therefore, while the payment demonstrates that refunds are being processed, the NCAA’s position suggests that the speed at which passengers receive refunds remains an important regulatory concern. The figure also highlights the substantial financial value attached to passenger refund obligations within Nigeria’s domestic aviation market. The NCAA’s call for faster resolution is significant because passengers often face financial pressure when travel plans are disrupted. A delayed refund can leave affected travellers waiting for money they may need to make alternative travel arrangements, cover accommodation costs or manage other expenses arising from disrupted journeys. Consequently, the regulator’s emphasis on quicker claims resolution signals a continued focus on the timeliness of passenger redress, rather than refunds being treated solely as an eventual financial obligation. The NCAA’s reference to Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023 also reinforces the regulatory framework governing consumer protection within the Nigerian aviation sector. The authority is effectively reminding operators that passenger rights must be respected alongside the operational and commercial realities of running an airline. The ₦182,099,018.88 paid to 956 passengers provides an indication of the scale of financial commitments airlines may face when dealing with passenger refund obligations. Meanwhile, the number of passengers affected shows that refund issues are not isolated occurrences within the sector. For airlines, timely refunds can help strengthen passenger confidence and reduce the potential for prolonged disputes. For passengers, an efficient refund process provides greater certainty when flights are cancelled or travel arrangements change unexpectedly. The NCAA said its position extends beyond the interests of passengers alone. “The NCAA remains committed to protecting the rights and responsibilities of passengers, operators, and all stakeholders,” Achimugu stated. The declaration reflects the regulator’s broader approach to consumer protection, which seeks to balance passenger rights with the responsibilities of airlines and other aviation stakeholders. This is particularly important in a sector where airlines must manage complex operational challenges while passengers expect reliable services and effective remedies when those services are disrupted. The NCAA’s position therefore underscores the need for a transparent and responsive system in which passengers can pursue legitimate refund claims and airlines can resolve those claims within the applicable regulatory framework. While the NCAA has acknowledged Max Air’s payment to 956 passengers, its message is clear: refunds must not only be paid; passenger claims should also be resolved promptly and in line with the applicable regulations. The development could further strengthen attention on airline consumer protection and the enforcement of passenger rights across Nigeria’s aviation industry. The NCAA’s latest statement therefore combines recognition of progress with a renewed call for faster action, putting passenger redress firmly at the centre of its consumer protection agenda.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has concluded plans to deploy a biometric identity verification system, known as V-Pass, across the nation’s domestic airports. This initiative is aimed at strengthening aviation security, reducing passenger processing time and eliminating dependence on physical identity documents. A statement issued yesterday by FAAN‘s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said the new facial recognition platform, developed in partnership with Verxid Technologies Limited, would enable passengers to verify their identities through biometric authentication, allowing them seamless access through airport security checkpoints and boarding gates. According to him, the initiative formed the focus of a strategic meeting between FAAN and Verxid Technologies Limited, where both organisations reviewed deployment plans, security safeguards and measures to improve passenger experience. The statement hinted that the authority centred on ensuring the successful rollout of the digital platform while maintaining high security standards. The statement quoted the Director of Commercial and Business Development, FAAN, Adebola Agunbiade as describing the V-Pass as another milestone in the authority’s ongoing digital transformation programme. According to her, the platform indicated FAAN’s commitment to deploying innovative technology that enhances passenger facilitation while reinforcing aviation security across domestic airports. She assured that the system would provide every traveller with a secure digital identity through a one-time enrolment process. Under the arrangement, Nigerian passengers would register using their National Identification Number (NIN) alongside facial biometric capture, while foreign travellers would enroll with their passports through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) supported by biometric authentication, the statement added. FAAN said the system would verify passenger identities before they gain access to restricted airport areas and once again before boarding their flights. The agency noted that the dual-verification process was designed to prevent identity fraud, impersonation and unauthorised access to airport facilities, while giving security agencies greater confidence in passenger authentication. Passengers would be able to complete the verification process either through self-service kiosks or with assistance from trained FAAN personnel. The deployment would also include electronic gates to automate access into controlled areas, reduce queues and improve passenger movement across airport terminals. According to the developers, first-time registration is expected to take about one minute, while subsequent biometric verification would take less than 30 seconds. Apart from passenger processing, the V-Pass platform would also provide airlines with secure digital access to flight schedules, passenger manifests and boarding statistics.

ASKY Airlines has expanded its fleet with the delivery of two new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, boosting its capacity and strengthening regional connectivity across Africa. The aircraft arrived in Lomé earlier this month, increasing ASKY’s fleet to 17 aircraft, including eight Boeing 737 MAX 8s, making it one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the region. Chief Executive Officer, Esayas Woldemariam Hailu, says the new aircraft will improve schedule reliability, support the opening of new routes and enhance passenger experience. The expansion also paves the way for ASKY’s new direct Lomé–Kano service, scheduled to begin on August 5, further promoting trade and travel within West Africa. Togo’s Minister of Transport, Comla Kadje, says the fleet expansion supports the country’s ambition to position Lomé as West Africa’s leading aviation hub while advancing regional integration and economic growth.