The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed domestic carrier Air Peace to formulate a compensation package for passengers impacted by a heavily delayed Lagos-to-Enugu flight on Monday, September 21, 2026, after finding that the airline issued incorrect flight notification updates. ​
The regulatory intervention follows a public complaint by human rights activist and lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who arrived at Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos around 5:50 AM for a scheduled 6:45 AM departure.
Effiong, who was travelling to Enugu State for a court appearance, revealed that passengers received a automated reminder at 2:01 AM on Monday urging them to arrive early, even though the flight was already set to be delayed due to operational disruptions carried over from Sunday evening. ​
Upon arriving at the terminal, passengers were kept waiting for about an hour before airport staff announced that the morning flight had been rescheduled to 4:50 PM. ​Replying to the public outcry, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the regulatory body launched a preliminary investigation into the incident.
Achimugu stated that both the Station Manager and Duty Manager at Air Peace acknowledged that the reminder message was dispatched in error, confirming that passengers should have been alerted to the rescheduled timeline prior to their arrival at the airport. ​
“The Station Manager and Duty Manager have confirmed that the messages sent out were the ones received, and that it was done in error,” Achimugu stated. “Sending the wrong notification was not a force majeure incident. Timely and honest information is key, and there was a gap in this regard.” ​
The regulatory authority instructed Air Peace to provide a clear compensation package to all affected travelers in strict compliance with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. While the airline claimed it had arranged hotel accommodation and care for the stranded passengers pending their evening departure, the NCAA noted it was actively verifying those claims. ​
Achimugu emphasized that while sanctions are not automatically triggered for every flight disruption, Air Peace will face heavy regulatory penalties if it fails to execute the required compensation and duty-of-care obligations promptly. ​
Attempts to reach Air Peace spokesperson Efe Osifo-Whiskey for official comment on the Lagos-Enugu disruption were unsuccessful prior to publication.
