The Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA are set to collaborate to prosecute an unruly passenger who resorted to smoking on board an aircraft in abeyance to civil aviation regulations .
This was contained in correspondences between the Authority and the Nigeria Police Force pledging to collaborate to ensure adequate investigation preceding the prosecution.
The passenger (name withheld) who has been handed over to the police for prosecution was on board a South African Airways 060 from Johannesburg to Lagos.
He was alleged to be smoking on board the aircraft in contravention of Section 58 of the Civil Aviation Act 2006, Part.17.97.2 (a) and (c) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulation 2012 (Nig.CARs).
In line with Part 20.2.3.42 of the Nig.CARs, the stipulated penalty for smoking on board an aircraft is imprisonment of not less than two months.
A statement signed by the general manager public relations of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye stated that it is important to note that according to the Regulations all airlines should and must as part of pre-flight formalities announce that smoking is prohibited anywhere in the cabin including the toilet.
“This culprit however, failed to adhere to this warning.Therefore; the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will collaborate with the Police to ensure prosecution.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is committed to follow this case to its logical conclusion to serve as a deterrence to others who possess the penchant to flout the Authority’s regulations” Adurogboye said.
He stated further that, “in addition, our Directorate of Consumer Protection (DCP) has been strengthened to ensure passengers get full value for their money and comfort”.