The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed all airline passengers to completely switch off their mobile phones during take-off and landing, outlawing the use of airplane mode.
The directive was announced by NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a post on X after an emergency meeting with aviation stakeholders 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 said.
He added that airlines are to immediately update their operational and security programmes to reflect the new policy. “No more airplane mode until regulations are reviewed to reflect evolving technological situations,” he stated.
According to the NCAA, the measure is a safety precaution designed to protect passengers, crew members, and airport operations.
Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reinforced strict security checks at all airport terminals, including baggage screening, boarding gate checks, and confiscation of liquids above 100ml.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiajulu Orah, in a statement, said: “All persons and luggage passing through the security at the entrance of terminal building must be screened. Only passengers with valid travel documents will be allowed access to departure halls.”
FAAN also reminded travellers that dangerous goods and prohibited items remain banned in both hand and checked-in luggage, while metallic objects, belts, shoes, and devices must be removed at screening points.
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