The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern directive to both local and international airlines operating within the country, mandating strict compliance with the “First Need” compensation policy for passengers affected by short-landed baggage. Failure to comply, the authority warned, will attract sanctions.
Short-landed baggage refers to checked-in luggage that fails to arrive with a passenger due to being mistakenly left behind at the departure airport and later sent on a subsequent flight. Under Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, affected passengers are entitled to compensation—N10,000 for domestic flights and $170 for international flights—to cover immediate essential needs while awaiting their baggage.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, issued this directive via a press statement released to journalists on Monday. He noted that the NCAA would no longer tolerate non-compliance with this regulation.
“This engagement, perhaps, should be the last time we will have to discuss the issue of this First Need. For a while now, it’s been a grey area. Recall that the CAA has sent letters to the airlines about First Need. There has not been much compliance by the airlines,” Achimugu stated.
He expressed concern about what appears to be either a lack of awareness or a deliberate disregard for the regulation on the part of the airlines. “The regulations are very clear. One cannot say for certain if the airlines are intentionally disregarding the regulations or if there is some miscommunication along the line,” he said.
“I met with some station managers who seemed not to be aware of the regulations. We thought that the right thing to do was to have this conversation with you to understand what the challenges have been. Why are we not paying First Need for shorthanded baggage?” he queried.
Achimugu reiterated the stipulations outlined in the regulation and reminded airlines of their obligations. “Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulation 2023 makes it clear. If the baggage of a passenger doesn’t arrive with the passenger, for a domestic airline, the passenger gets N10,000, and you have seven days to deliver the bag at their address at no cost to the passenger,” he said.
He pointed out that passengers’ lack of awareness about their rights has allowed some airlines to sidestep the rule. “But because a lot of passengers do not know their rights, the airlines have been making the passengers come pick up their luggage. Going forward, you must comply with the regulation,” he told the airlines.
NCAA Urges Airlines to Meet Global Standards Amid Calls for Infrastructure Improvements
While acknowledging the efforts of domestic carriers, Achimugu urged them to adhere to global best practices. “You should operate at world-class standards. I must commend the domestic airlines, for they are trying. The margins are small, and the airlines have a capacity problem. As an authority, we try to support the airlines because it is not all the case that the airlines are wrong. But the regulation must be obeyed,” he added.
Also speaking during the meeting, the Senior Special Assistant to the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Ifueko Abdulamlik, clarified that passengers may be entitled to additional compensation in cases of prolonged baggage delays. “Where the airline delays delivering the baggage for extended days, the passenger has the right to additional claims, but with receipt of items bought as a result of their inconvenience from the delayed baggage,”
Airline representatives at the meeting appealed to the NCAA to intervene with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and terminal operators to address poor infrastructure, such as malfunctioning conveyor belts, which they claim contribute significantly to baggage delays.
Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations also covers other areas of passenger rights, including entitlements in cases of flight delays or cancellations, denied boarding due to overbooking, and mishandled baggage.
The NCAA concluded by affirming its commitment to enforcing the First Need compensation regulation strictly, ensuring that passengers receive the support and protection stipulated by law.
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