First Need compensation enforcement begins as NCAA warns airlines to comply with baggage delay rules or face penalties. Passengers must receive due benefits

First Need compensation is now at the center of aviation accountability in Nigeria. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a firm directive to both local and international airlines to comply fully with the First Need compensation policy or face strict sanctions.

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The regulation, rooted in Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, mandates that passengers whose baggage arrives late—known as short-landed baggage must be compensated.

The law sets the compensation at N10,000 for domestic flights and $170 for international flights, aimed at covering passengers’ basic needs while they wait for their belongings.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, stated emphatically that “non-compliance will no longer be tolerated.” He criticized airlines for either ignoring or misunderstanding the rule, despite prior notifications.

“The regulations are very clear,” Achimugu said. “Many airlines have failed to adhere, and passengers are paying the price.”

Airlines are also expected to deliver delayed baggage to passengers within seven days at no cost. However, many carriers still require passengers to return to the airport—an act Achimugu says violates the regulation.

Acknowledging the operational challenges facing airlines, Achimugu encouraged carriers to strive for world-class standards while emphasizing that legal obligations cannot be ignored.

Supporting the message, Ifueko Abdulamlik, Senior Special Assistant to the Director-General, reminded airlines that passengers can seek additional claims for extended delays, provided they show receipts for essentials purchased due to inconvenience.

Airline representatives requested NCAA’s support in resolving infrastructure issues like faulty conveyor belts, which they claim are major contributors to baggage mishandling.

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As part of broader consumer protection, the NCAA vowed to begin strict enforcement of the First Need compensation rule, signaling a new era of passenger rights advocacy in Nigeria’s aviation sector.