# Nigerian domestic aviation operational disruptions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nigerian-domestic-aviation-operational-disruptions
> Updated: 2026-09-21T12:01:07.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 4.

Operational disruptions in Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector have escalated, with recent data indicating that more than 60 percent of domestic flights were recorded as either delayed or cancelled during a recent review period.

Following widespread delays in August 2026, the Nigerian government has moved toward considering sanctions against several domestic carriers, specifically naming Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has already issued warnings to Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, and Max Air. These regulatory actions follow reports of systemic issues, including apron congestion at Lagos and Abuja airports, poor business planning, and weak enforcement.

In a specific enforcement action, the NCAA directed Air Peace to compensate passengers following a delayed Lagos–Enugu flight. A preliminary investigation revealed the airline issued incorrect notifications to travelers regarding schedule changes. One passenger, lawyer Inibehe Effiong, alleged the airline sent misleading reminders as late as 2:01am for a flight that was rescheduled from 6:45am to 4:50pm, causing him to miss a court appearance.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, attributed the disruption to a ripple effect from a previous day’s cancellation. He urged Air Peace to maintain buffer aircraft to mitigate future delays. Amidst these regulatory pressures, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) continues to allege that aviation unions are engaging in “selective picketing” at major airports to target specific carriers like Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines.

## Claims

- The NCAA ordered Air Peace to compensate passengers affected by a delayed Lagos–Enugu flight. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The airline issued incorrect notifications to passengers regarding the flight delay. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Air Peace recorded 1,330 delays out of 1,864 flights in August. (single source)
- More than 60 per cent of domestic flights in Nigeria were either delayed or cancelled during the period under review. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Air Peace ordered to compensate passengers by NCAA over flight delay

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has ordered Air Peace to compensate passengers after a Lagos–Enugu flight delay caused by incorrect notifications and scheduling disruptions.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/air-peace-ordered-to-compensate-passengers-by-ncaa-over-flight-delay

### 2026-09-17: Nigeria considers sanctions against airlines over flight delays

Nigeria considers sanctions against Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines following high flight delay rates, while airline operators accuse unions of targeting specific carriers through airport picketing.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-considers-sanctions-against-airlines-over-flight-delays

### 2026-09-16: Nigerian domestic airlines face high flight delay rates

Nigerian domestic airlines faced a 59.9 percent flight delay rate in August, with Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines seeing high disruption levels due to both operational issues and systemic infrastructure-p

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-domestic-airlines-face-high-flight-delay-rates

### 2026-09-14: Nigeria domestic airlines recorded 4,765 flight delays in August

Nigeria's domestic airlines saw nearly 60 percent of flights delayed in August 2026, with United Nigeria and Air Peace recording the highest disruption rates according to the NCAA.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-domestic-airlines-recorded-4765-flight-delays-in-august

---
Cite as: Nigerian domestic aviation operational disruptions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nigerian-domestic-aviation-operational-disruptions