In a move towards promoting inclusive air travel, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to all domestic airlines to integrate a mandatory “Special Needs/Assistance” option into their flight ticket booking systems.
The directive aims to ensure that Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) and passengers with disabilities can request necessary support at the point of purchase of a flight ticket, rather than facing hurdles at the airport.
This was contained in a statement signed by Michael Achimugu for the Director-General of NCAA, released on Friday, January 30, 2026.
The agency recalled that in its earlier correspondence with Reference No. NCAAVCPD/ 585/1/22 dated 13 April 2022, it had directed all domestic airlines to “conspicuously place on their online ticket reservation platforms a mandatory field, box, or column through which passengers may request assistance or give advance notice of special needs prior to ticket purchase.”
It said the directive is a formal enforcement of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023.
The NCAA regulations mandate that during reservation, airlines, travel agents, and tour operators shall:
Provide travelers the opportunity to request assistance at the point of booking across all ticket sales channels, including online platforms and telephone reservations;
Mandatorily include on ticket portals a designated field or column through which persons with disabilities or their assistants may request special needs assistance while booking or purchasing flight tickets;
Actively enquire whether any passenger within a booking party may require assistance at the airport and/or during flight operations.
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“In view of the foregoing, the NCAA has directed all affected airlines to conspicuously integrate a mandatory special needs assistance request option into their ticket reservation systems, ensuring that passengers are able to request such assistance before completing the ticket purchase process.
“Airlines are required to comply within seven (7) days of receipt of this directive,” NCAA stated.
This means the domestic airlines are expected to start implementing the order by early February 2026.
NCAA warned that any airline that fails to comply will face regulatory enforcement actions, which can include heavy fines or other operational sanctions.
The civil aviation regulator reiterated its commitment to ensuring inclusive, accessible, and safe air travel for all passengers.
Why this Regulation Matters
Many passengers with disabilities in Nigeria have, in the past, reportedly faced challenges, such as not having access to things like wheelchairs or ambulifts upon arrival.
Analysts believe that this digital integration removes the excuse of “unforeseen” needs by creating a documented request at the time of booking.
Reacting to the directive, a disability rights advocate in Lagos said it is a right step towards ensuring the protection of the dignity of disabled people embarking on air travel. “It is about dignity. We are paying customers, not cargo. This directive forces airlines to plan for us, rather than treating us as an operational inconvenience.”
Some X users said the move brings Nigeria in line with global practice and called on airlines to invest in necessary equipment to fulfil the obligation.
NCAA’s move to enforce Special Needs/Assistance clause followed a series of viral social media posts showing how disabled persons were not given deserved dignified treatment by airlines during boarding.
In a post on X last year, a data science expert and advocate for the dead, Dr Arowolo Ayoola, recounted their experience travelling to Uyo for a tech training for deaf people. While highlighting transformations in the country’s airports since the coming of the current administration, the Deaf advocate pointed out the need for more inclusion for other disability clusters, especially the deaf community.
Ayoola appealed to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to consider installing visual display screens for flight announcements, as obtainable in many international airports, to enable deaf people to know when to board, as flight announcements are currently made solely through audio speakers in the airports. “This would go a long way in ensuring that Deaf travelers have equal access to vital travel information,” Ayoola stated in his post on April 6, 2025.
Reacting to the latest NCAA directive, Ayoola wrote: “Glad to see that we are taking the right steps towards inclusion. The aviation sector under @fkeyamo is pushing in the right direction.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
