In a significant shift from global norms, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered a full ban on the use of mobile phones and all electronic devices during take-off and landing, eliminating the previous allowance for “flight mode.”
The directive was announced by the NCAA’s Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, at a meeting in Abuja.
He explicitly stated that devices must be completely powered down during these critical phases of flight on all Nigerian airlines.
“There’s nothing like flight mode any longer. [Phones] must be switched off,” Najomo emphasized, instructing all domestic airlines to update their operations manuals to reflect this new rule immediately.
This policy is a key part of a broader strategy to strengthen safety protocols and address a rise in disruptive passenger incidents at Nigerian airports. Declaring that “the era of business as usual is over,” Najomo promised strict enforcement for both airlines and passengers.
The NCAA plans to launch public awareness campaigns to inform travelers of their responsibilities.
The DG also issued a warning to airline operators, stating that the Authority would be checking to ensure they provide adequate training to their crews on these new regulations.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
