By Segun Otokiti
WorldStage– The Federal Government of Nigeria and the legal community have joined forces to demand a higher standard of accountability within Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The advocacy was pushed at a workshop hosted by the Juweirat Law Resource Centre and Synergy Attornies in Lekki, Lagos State, focusing on protection of travelers and the ethical obligations of airline operators.
The workshop follows a period of increased regulatory scrutiny in the Nigerian aviation industry, including recent investigations by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) into high domestic ticket rates.
The event, titled “Air Passengers’ Rights Under the Law: Ethical Obligations and Strategic Compliance,” brought together the nation’s top legal minds and aviation regulators to address the growing concerns of the flying public.
Strengthening the regulatory guardrails in a keynote address, the Minister of Aviation and Airspace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), represented by senior Ministry officials, reaffirmed that passenger protection is a top priority for the current administration.
Keyamo emphasized that the government is actively strengthening its oversight of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that airlines do not just view passenger rights as a suggestion, but as a mandatory legal requirement.
The workshop’s host, Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), Principal Partner at Synergy Attornies, opened the session by highlighting the gap between legal theory and passenger experience.
Owonikoko argued that while international frameworks like the Montreal Convention provide a shield for travelers, true progress requires “strategic compliance” from the airlines themselves.
He noted that awareness is the greatest tool for ensuring that rights to compensation, refreshments, and accommodation are respected during service disruptions.
A panel, featuring Michael Achimugu (NCAA), Toyin Bashorun, SAN, Kehinde Ojuawo, and Ibrahim Omale, provided deep dives into
liability and compensation as well as navigating the complexities of baggage loss and denied boarding.
The panel also touched on the Duty of Care as one of the non-negotiable requirements for airlines to provide for passengers during prolonged delays.
It also dealt with the issue of Security Protocols which involves managing the intersection of passenger conduct and aviation safety.
Proposing new solutions
during his closing remarks, the host, Owonikoko, offered a pragmatic solution to the industry’s backlog of grievances.
He urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to consider engaging licensing agents to facilitate small-claims resolutions, bypass lengthy litigation, and restore consumer trust.
The collaboration between Keyamo and Owonikoko signals a unified front in the mission to transform Nigeria’s airspace into a consumer-friendly environment where the rights of every passenger are recognized and protected.
