Mobile Courts to Try Unruly Passengers at Nigerian Airports.

By Ekpenyong Emmanuel

In a bid to tackle the rising incidents of unruly behavior by passengers at Nigerian airports, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have announced plans to establish mobile courts to try offenders on the spot.

The decision was reached at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the NCAA to address the growing concern of flight disruptions caused by unruly passengers. The meeting was attended by representatives of FAAN, NCAA, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).

According to the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu, the mobile courts will be established at major airports across the country to try passengers who engage in unruly behavior, including physical attacks on airline and airport staff, destruction of airport facilities, and other forms of misconduct.

Achimugu stated that the mobile courts will ensure that offenders are promptly prosecuted and punished, serving as a deterrent to others. He added that the NCAA and FAAN will also conduct sensitization campaigns to educate passengers on the consequences of unruly behavior.

In addition to the establishment of mobile courts, the stakeholders’ meeting also resolved to extend airport operational hours to 10 pm at sunset airports, which are airports that operate between 7 am and 7 pm due to lack of night flying facilities. This move is aimed at reducing flight cancellations and delays, which often trigger unruly behavior by passengers.

The meeting also agreed on other measures to address flight disruptions, including optimizing flight schedules, maintaining standby aircraft to manage Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations, and providing weather forecasts to airlines to enable better flight planning.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, emphasized the need for passengers to behave responsibly and respect airport rules and regulations. She warned that unruly behavior will no longer be tolerated and that offenders will face the full weight of the law.

The establishment of mobile courts to try unruly passengers is a significant step towards maintaining order and discipline at Nigerian airports. With the new measures in place, passengers can expect a safer and more efficient travel experience, while airlines and airport authorities can focus on providing better services without disruptions.