The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed that all mobile phones must be completely switched off during take-off and landing of all flights.
In a post on X post on Tuesday, Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said the regulation concerning phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has now been unified.
The development comes after the agency’s emergency meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday.
“All phones must be switched off during the critical aspects of takeoff and landing,” Achimugu said.
“All airlines must amend their security programmes to reflect this if different in their current programmes.”
He added that the use of airplane mode is no longer permitted until the regulations are reviewed to “reflect evolving technological situations”.
The directive comes after a recent incident involving Comfort Emmanson, a passenger accused of unruly behaviour on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
Viral videos circulated on X captured Emmanson physically assaulting a flight attendant and confronting airport security officials.
According to Ibom Air, the altercation began shortly before take-off when the passenger allegedly refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures requiring all mobile phones to be switched off.
Minister of Aviation and Eurospace Development, Festus Keyamo, later intervened and ordered the release of Emmanson.
