The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed all airline passengers to switch off mobile phones and electronic devices during aircraft take-off and landing, marking a shift from the previous allowance of “airplane mode.”
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, disclosed the new regulation in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
“Henceforth, the regulation per phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has been unified: ALL PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF DURING THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF TAKE-OFF AND LANDING,” Achimugu wrote.
He added that all airlines must amend their security programmes to reflect the directive, stressing: “No more airplane mode until regulations are reviewed to reflect evolving technological situations.”
The fresh directive follows the high-profile controversy surrounding Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight, whose refusal to switch off her phone led to her arrest and detention.
Emmanson was reportedly asked to switch off her phone, which she claimed was already on flight mode, but an altercation ensued. On Sunday, August 10, 2025, she was arrested after allegedly assaulting the flight purser during the incident. She was arraigned the following day and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility.
Videos of the confrontation quickly went viral, showing Emmanson being stopped from leaving the aircraft and, in another clip, partially exposed while being dragged out by security officials. The footage sparked outrage online and fueled a national debate about passenger rights, airline safety protocols, and privacy violations.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, condemned the release of the videos and vowed to sanction those responsible for the footage leak.
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Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu described the treatment of Emmanson as “selective justice,” while Lagos-based lawyer Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya called for transparency, due process, and a fair investigation into the incident.
Sahara Reporters earlier reported that an eyewitness who sat beside Emmanson had submitted a statement to the NCAA, which prompted the aviation regulator to launch a formal probe into the case.
Following widespread public criticism, Keyamo later announced the withdrawal of criminal complaints against Emmanson and confirmed that the lifetime flying ban imposed by Ibom Air would be lifted.
Industry observers note that the NCAA’s latest directive appears aimed at preventing further disputes between passengers and airlines over mobile phone use during flights.
With the new rules, passengers in Nigeria are no longer permitted to keep phones in airplane mode during take-off and landing, a move that aligns with stricter global aviation safety standards.
Airlines are expected to immediately update their operating procedures to comply with the directive.
