NCAA Criticized for Misleading Flight Disruption Reports

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been criticized for its methodology in compiling and publishing domestic flight performance statistics, particularly following the August 2026 performance figures. Public affairs analyst Bonaventure Phillips Melah argues that the NCAA's monthly disruption reports present raw numerical data that misleads the public and harms the reputations of indigenous airlines.

The August report indicated that domestic carriers delayed 4,765 out of 7,961 scheduled flights, with Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines recording the highest numbers of delays. Melah contends that comparing major network carriers with smaller operators ignores basic statistical principles, as larger airlines have more operational exposure to disruptions.

The current reporting framework fails to differentiate between the causes and durations of delays, treating a minor weather-related hold the same as a significant operational failure. External factors, such as labor union actions and adverse weather, contribute to many disruptions.

Melah calls for the NCAA to adopt a transparent, cause-based reporting methodology to improve the accuracy of flight performance statistics.