The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified why air passengers are required to turn off their mobile phones before take-off and landing, stressing that the rule is linked to safety and security concerns.
Michael Achimugu, spokesperson for the NCAA, gave the explanation during an interview on Arise Television’s News Night. His remarks followed the recent incident involving Ibom Air, which placed a ban on a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, after she was captured in a viral video slapping a Purser when instructed to turn off her phone before departure.
Speaking on Tuesday, Achimugu stated that compliance with phone restrictions is tied to varying safety protocols adopted by airlines, and that passengers often misunderstand the underlying reasons. He explained that while some aircraft are equipped to function with devices on airplane mode, others are not. For this reason, pilots and cabin crew must be obeyed since they understand the specific requirements of their aircraft.
“Regulator is a responsive authority in this case. There are too many arguments over which is better between switching off phones or putting them on aeroplane mode on the flight. Unfortunately, people have failed to grasp the crux of the matter. Now that the explanation has been given, some aircraft are equipped to fly in aeroplane mode, some are not,” he said.
He further stressed that the pilot’s authority must not be challenged because aviation safety leaves no room for mistakes. According to him, arguing with crew members over phone use at the point of departure increases risks for everyone on board.
“So if the cabin crew are saying ‘turn off your phone’, the time to have an argument about which is better is not the point of departure, and so if we continue to let this kind of argument fester, it is going to pose a risk for every passenger on board. In aviation, every tiny mistake can cause a mishap,” he warned.
The directive was reinforced by the NCAA Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja themed National Civil Aviation Security Committee Meeting. Najomo announced that passengers on Nigerian flights are now required to completely switch off mobile phones and other portable electronic devices during critical phases of flight, particularly take-off and landing.
He emphasized that the long-standing allowance of “flight mode” will no longer apply. “All mobile phones, I repeat, all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices should be switched off during at least the critical phase of flight on all Nigerian airlines. Switched off,” he declared.
Najomo added that there is “nothing like anything like flight mode any longer,” directing Nigerian airlines to update their operations manuals to reflect the new requirement and submit them for NCAA approval. He also revealed that stronger measures will be enforced to curb unruly passenger behaviour across airports, warning that the era of “business as usual” in aviation is over.
What you should know
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has unified its regulation on mobile phone use in flights, ruling out the widely practiced “flight mode” option.
Passengers must now completely power off their phones and portable devices during take-off and landing, regardless of airline. This directive follows recent debates and incidents linked to disobedience of flight safety instructions, including the Ibom Air passenger ban.
According to NCAA officials, the rule ensures consistency in safety standards, as not all aircraft can accommodate devices in airplane mode. The measure is part of broader steps to improve aviation safety and curb unruly passenger conduct.
