Air passengers are increasingly arriving at airports unaware that their flights have been delayed, rescheduled or cancelled, a situation the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says is being worsened by poor communication between travel agents and travellers.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, raised the concern in a video posted on his official X page on Tuesday.
According to him, many complaints received by the regulator involve passengers who booked tickets through third-party agents but failed to receive important updates directly from airlines.
Mr Achimugu said many travel agents use their own phone numbers and email addresses during bookings, leaving passengers dependent on them for information on delays, cancellations, and schedule changes.
In recent months, both domestic and international passengers have repeatedly complained about arriving at airports only to discover that their flights had either been cancelled or rescheduled without their knowledge, leaving many stranded for hours.
One such incident occurred on 27 April, involving passengers travelling aboard Ethiopian Airlines through Abuja to destinations including India.
Some of the affected passengers told PREMIUM TIMES that they travelled long distances for their international departures only to discover at the airport that the flights had been disrupted.
Several passengers said they never received any prior notification because their tickets were booked through travel agents.
One of the passengers, who identified himself as Yusuf Muhammad, said they depended entirely on their agents for updates from the airline.
According to him, the agents later claimed they had not received any information about the disruption.
The incident reportedly left several passengers stranded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with some forced to spend the night at the terminal before arranging alternative travel plans the next day.
Reacting to the growing complaints, Mr Achimugu urged passengers to insist that their personal phone numbers and email addresses are used whenever tickets are booked through third parties.
“For the umpteenth time, I feel the need to say this. If you are booking your flight tickets through a third party, like a travel agent, please insist that they fill in your own phone number, or at least your email, when booking your ticket,” he said.
He added that, “The reason is because in our experience at the NCAA Consumer Protection Department, most of the cases of missed flights that have been recorded are because third-party passengers were not informed by their agents when they received notifications for delays, schedule changes and cancellations.”
He also advised passengers to check their emails and text messages regularly before travelling.
“A lot of passengers have received emails and still went ahead to the airport for disruptions which they received notification for, only to discover later that they had received such notifications earlier,” he added.
The NCAA spokesperson further encouraged passengers to patronise registered travel agencies affiliated with the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), noting that such agencies can be held accountable for negligence.
“I would encourage you, from the NCAA perspective, to do business with travel agencies who are members of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies ( NANTA),” he said.
Mr Achimugu said the increasing number of complaints linked to poor communication between airlines, agents and passengers highlights the need for travellers to take greater responsibility for monitoring travel information directly from airlines.
Dangote Cement Plc has put its proposed listing on the London Stock Exchange on hold, citing current market conditions and the company’s strategic priorities.
The company disclosed this in a regulatory filing signed by Edward Imoedemhe, the company secretary, following a meeting of its board of directors on Tuesday.
In May, Dangote Cement announced it was in early talks over a potential London listing, a move that would help widen its access to overseas investors and capital.
The company later, in July, explained that the faster and more practical listing process in the United Kingdom influenced its preference for London over Dubai for the secondary listing.
On Tuesday, the cement producer said it will not proceed with the secondary listing, noting that its shares remain listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group, and that the decision will not affect the company’s operations.
“The Company’s ordinary shares remain listed on the NGX, and this decision does not in any way affect the Company’s operations or business plans,” Dangote Cement added.
The company said it will remain focused on delivering sustainable value to its shareholders and building on its strong market position.
Dangote Cement is majority-owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who launched the continent’s largest-ever initial public offering in September for his oil refinery.
Dangote Cement, with a production capacity of 55 million tonnes per annum, has a footprint in 11 African countries, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Zambia, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire, among others.
The corporation’s nine-month profit in 2026 jumped 31 per cent, while its revenue hit N3.8 trillion, boosted by improved revenue from cement and clinker sales.
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SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Nigeria Limited has launched Esusu, an innovative savings initiative designed to encourage a consistent savings culture, promote financial discipline and help Nigerians take practical steps towards achieving their financial goals.
Inspired by the traditional Nigerian Esusu savings system, the initiative combines the familiarity of regular savings practices with the added benefits of a structured insurance-backed savings arrangement. It provides individuals with an opportunity to build their savings through flexible daily contributions, with the option to make additional contributions as their financial capacity allows.
Through Esusu, customers can make regular contributions towards their savings goals and receive a maturity benefit based on their accumulated contributions, less applicable withdrawals, in line with the policy terms and conditions. The initiative also incorporates death cover, providing an additional layer of financial protection for beneficiaries in the event of an unfortunate occurrence, subject to applicable policy provisions.
Speaking at the launch, Tunde Mimiko, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Limited, said: “At SanlamAllianz, we recognise that achieving financial confidence begins with the right financial habits. Saving should not be an overwhelming responsibility; it should be a consistent practice that individuals can incorporate into their everyday lives. With Esusu, we are bringing a familiar savings culture into a structured financial solution that encourages consistency while providing additional protection. Our goal is to empower more Nigerians to take charge of their financial future, one contribution at a time.”
The initiative reflects SanlamAllianz’s commitment to developing customer-focused solutions that respond to the evolving financial needs of Nigerians. By encouraging small, consistent contributions, Esusu seeks to demonstrate that building financial security does not necessarily require having large sums of money available at once. The product is available to eligible individuals between the ages of 18 and 80, subject to the applicable policy requirements and conditions.
Shedding more light on the product, Chris Ekwonwa, Group Head, Strategy, Marketing and Customer Relations, SanlamAllianz Nigeria, said: “Beyond providing a savings opportunity, Esusu reinforces the importance of financial literacy and long-term planning. It encourages individuals to become more intentional about managing their finances, preparing for future responsibilities and building a stronger financial foundation using a financial instrument they are very familiar with. With the campaign message “Esusu – Savings Wey Confam!”, SanlamAllianz is taking a relatable approach to financial empowerment, connecting with Nigerians through a savings concept deeply rooted in local culture while providing the structure and additional protection of an insurance solution.”
Industry watchers have long called for a retail driven product for the underserved markets, the launch of SanlamAllianz Esusu clearly is a stab at that target audience and expectations are rife as to the potential impact of the product.
SanlamAllianz Nigeria is no stranger to taking bold initiatives in the market space. With its first-of-its-kind SanlamAllianz Campus Takeover with Ayo Maff kicking off this weekend at the iconic OAU Amphitheatre at Ife, there are progressive signs that the brand is not paying lip service to its oft-stated quest to drive insurance penetration and financial inclusion in the Nigerian insurance market.
ABOUT SANLAMALLIANZ
SanlamAllianz is a Pan-African financial services joint venture between Sanlam, Africa’s largest non-banking financial services group, and Allianz, a global financial services and insurance leader.
In Nigeria, SanlamAllianz operates through its Life and General Insurance businesses, providing a range of insurance and financial solutions designed to protect individuals, families and businesses while supporting their financial aspirations.