NCAA reacts to viral video of airport property destruction

By Folashade Olorunfemi –

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reaffirmed its zero tolerance for passengers’ unruly behaviour following a trending video of a passenger destroying the Authority’s property.

In a video circulating on Friday, a young man was seen throwing airport barricades aside, visibly angered by news of his flight cancellation.

Reacting to the incident, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Michael Achimugu, released a video on the Authority’s social media pages, reaffirming that unruly behaviour would not be tolerated and could lead to jail terms for offenders.

According to him, “Unruly behaviour will not change the fact of a cancellation or delay. Instead, it could land you in jail. When you destroy property like this at the airport, you are only disrupting the schedules of other passengers who are not on your flight. How does this help your case?”

The NCAA spokesperson further expressed his displeasure, stating that there are established mechanisms for seeking redress if a passenger feels wronged by an airline, rather than resorting to violence. He urged Nigerians to maintain good behaviour and abide by stipulated rules to avoid conflict.

Mr Achimugu stressed that many disruptions are not the fault of the airlines, urging Nigerians to remain peaceful and understanding during such periods. In his words, “In 2026, we should not be seen behaving like this. That is why there is a mechanism by which airlines can be handled or called to account if the fault is theirs. This is wrong at every level and should not be encouraged. Nigerians, we are better people than this.”

The video and Achimugu’s reaction have since attracted public interest, with many people supporting the man’s behaviour, while others condemned it.

A Facebook user, Samson Chinedu Ndukuba, commented, “If Nigerian aviation never show you shege, you will never understand.” Another user, Kachi Emmanuel, remarked, “Address the issue that led to the man throwing away the barricade.”