The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, has been honoured with the 2026/2027 African Brands Personality Award in recognition of his contributions to consumer protection and the promotion of passenger rights in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The award was presented at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja by a delegation from African Brands led by Godwin Enesi Chatta.
Presenting the award, Chatta commended Achimugu for repositioning the Authority’s consumer protection directorate through stronger enforcement of passenger rights, improved public engagement, and enhanced airline compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
He said the directorate has intensified public awareness campaigns, encouraged travellers to understand their rights, and strengthened collaboration with airlines to improve adherence to consumer protection standards.
According to him, the NCAA has also improved its relationship with the public through regular enlightenment programmes and transparent communication on aviation issues, while actively countering misinformation with timely and accurate information.
Chatta further praised the Authority’s advocacy for passenger rights, particularly efforts to increase awareness of compensation policies, flight delay rights, complaint resolution procedures, and ticket refund processes.
He noted that these initiatives have led to significant improvements in passenger refunds and airline compliance with consumer protection regulations.
Receiving the award, Achimugu described the recognition as a reflection of the NCAA’s collective commitment to safeguarding the interests of air travellers.
He explained that the Directorate of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection is statutorily responsible for resolving passenger complaints arising from flight delays, cancellations, baggage issues, ticket refunds, and other consumer-related matters.
According to him, the directorate has recorded the highest volume of ticket refunds, passenger compensation, and regulatory compliance interventions in the history of the Authority.
Achimugu disclosed that the NCAA achieved a 65 per cent passenger complaint resolution rate in 2025, representing a 10-percentage-point improvement over the previous year.
He expressed optimism that the Authority is on track to raise the resolution rate to 90 per cent before the end of 2026 through sustained reforms aimed at strengthening consumer protection and improving service delivery across the aviation sector.
The NCAA director dedicated the award to his children, members of his team, and the Authority’s leadership, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring Nigerian air travellers enjoy better protection and higher service standards.
He also urged passengers to familiarise themselves with their rights and responsibilities under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, stressing that an informed travelling public is vital to building a more accountable and responsive aviation industry.
The African Brands Personality Award recognises individuals whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence have made significant contributions to public service, industry, and sustainable development across Africa.