Nigerian Aviation Authority Orders All Phones Off During Flight Take-Off And Landing, Bans Airplane Mode

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that passengers must switch off all mobile phones during aircraft take-off and landing.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, made the announcement in a post on X on Tuesday.

"Henceforth, the regulation per phones and other electronic devices in Nigeria has been unified: ALL PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF DURING THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF TAKE OFF AND LANDING,” he said.
“All airlines must amend their security programmes to reflect this if different in their current programmes.”
“No more airplane mode until regulations are reviewed to reflect evolving technological situations,” he added.

This development comes after the controversy surrounding Comfort Emmanson and Ibom Air. The controversy emanated from the reported refusal of Emmanson to switch off her phone, which was said to have been on flight mode.
Emmanson was arrested on Sunday, August 10, 2025, following a reported altercation during the flight in which she allegedly refused to switch off her mobile phone before take-off and later assaulted the purser.
She was arraigned the next day and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility.
The case attracted widespread attention after videos circulated online showing her being blocked from leaving the aircraft and, in another clip, partially exposed while being dragged out by airport security.
Aviation minister Festus Keyamo condemned the release of the footage and promised to sanction those responsible.
Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu described the handling of the case as “selective justice,” while Lagos-based lawyer Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya called for a transparent investigation and strict adherence to due process.
SaharaReporters had reported that an eyewitness who sat beside Emmanson on the flight later provided a statement to the NCAA, prompting the agency to begin a formal investigation.
The aviation minister later announced the withdrawal of criminal complaints against her and confirmed that the lifetime flying ban imposed by Ibom Air would be lifted.