The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern directive to all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria to strictly comply with the “First Need” compensation policy, which mandates payments to passengers whose checked-in luggage fails to arrive with them.
Short-landed baggage refers to luggage that is mistakenly left behind at the departure airport and arrives later. According to Part 19 of the Civil Aviation Regulation 2023, affected domestic passengers are entitled to ₦10,000, while international passengers must be compensated with $170, enabling them to purchase essential items while waiting for their luggage. International carriers that fail to fulfill their contractual terms of carriage will be compelled to pay the fixed $170 compensation without exception.
During an engagement at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Michael Achimugu, warned that non-compliance would no longer be tolerated.
“This meeting may be the last time we discuss the First Need compensation,” Achimugu said. “We’ve sent several notices to airlines, but compliance has been poor. Whether it’s due to ignorance or disregard, we expect full adherence moving forward.”
He added that all airlines must deliver delayed baggage to passengers at no cost within seven days and are not permitted to ask travelers to return to the airport for collection.
“The law is clear. The compensation is mandatory. Passengers are often unaware of their rights, which airlines have exploited,” Achimugu said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Ifueko Abdulmalik, Senior Special Assistant to the Director General of NCAA, stressed that passengers whose baggage is delayed for several days may seek further compensation for necessities purchased—provided they present receipts.
Meanwhile, airline representatives appealed to the NCAA to work with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and terminal operators to repair damaged infrastructure such as conveyor belts, which often delay baggage handling.
Part 19 of the regulation also covers broader passenger rights related to denied boarding, flight delays or cancellations, and baggage mishandling, reinforcing NCAA’s mission to uphold global aviation standards.
