By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has dismissed reports that the Qatar Airways flight to Doha in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made an emergency landing in Lagos.

In a statement, the nation’s aviation regulator disclosed that the return of the aircraft to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja on Friday was merely precautionary, not an emergency as it is being reported.

Over the weekend, the aircraft carrying 248 passengers and 12 crew members from Lagos to Doha returned to base after a technical alert was detected.

The Qatar Airways flight QR1406 landed normally and safely, disembarking without incident, Business Post gathered.

The regulator said precautionary air returns are a routine part of global aviation safety protocols designed to prioritise passenger safety and allow technical issues to be addressed on the ground.

“An air return due to a technical alert that landed normally and safely without incident is standard aviation practice. There was no incursion, no excursion and no crash landing,” the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Mr Michael Achimugu, stated.

Also, Qatar Airways in a statement on Saturday said the cockpit crew followed established operational procedures and acted in the interest of safety.

“The cockpit crew followed all established safety procedures, and the aircraft landed safely in Lagos. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” it noted, adding that passengers were assisted on arrival and rebooked on the next suitable flights to reach their destinations, apologising for any inconvenience caused.

Aviation and emergency authorities said the coordinated response to the aircraft’s return demonstrated the effectiveness of Nigeria’s aviation safety oversight and emergency preparedness.

The NCAA said the incident underscores the professionalism of international carriers operating in Nigeria and reflects safety systems working as designed.

By Bon Peters

The South-South Regional Manager of the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN), Mrs Lynda Ezike, has said Aerodrome Certification by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) could serve as a catalyst for investors’ confidence for Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State.

Mrs Ezike made the assertion in Port Harcourt recently during a chat with newsmen, noting that the certification has also strategically positioned the facility for global recognition, thereby promoting the ease of doing business at the Airport.

The FAAN chief, who also manages the airport, reaffirmed the determination and commitment to leverage on the certification awarded the facility to promote better services.

“We will continue to uphold all operational policies in the aviation sector,” she said, adding that the certification was a confirmation that the facility fully met all global benchmarks.

According to her, the airport topped in infrastructure, operational procedures and safety management, revealing that the NCAA, as part of its drive to institutionalise global standards across Nigeria’s airport networks, recently issued Aerodrome Certificates to Kano and Port Harcourt Airports.

She commended the exercise, emphasizing its importance to boosting investors’ confidence for airline operators, passengers and airport users.

“The certification officially presented on December 19, 2025, followed a strict and rigorously structured regulatory processes jointly carried out by the NCAA and FAAN.

“This collaborative scrutiny underscores the importance of interagency collaboration towards safety and operational excellence across Nigeria’s sectors,” she said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

‎‎The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disputed claims by the chief executive of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, that excessive taxes are responsible for high domestic airfares.

During a recent interview with Arise TV, Mr Onyema stated that a one-hour flight costs over $400 abroad, but in Nigeria, tickets are still sold for N125,000, which he said is equivalent to less than $60. He said this is why the mortality rate of airlines in Nigeria is very high, as over 80 airlines have became non-operational.

‎‎He then said that airlines keep just 23 per cent of a N350,000 ticket after taxes and charges, but the NCAA has pushed back, describing the tax complaints as untrue, blaming the increase in fares on the festive season demand.

On his X handle, the NCAA’s spokesperson, Mr Michael Achimugu, stated that after summoning all domestic airlines, they all admitted to not paying the volume of taxes being publicly complained about.

Mr ‎‎Achimugu blamed the fare hikes witnessed in December on the high demand of the festive season, noting there was no concurrent increase in official taxes or jet fuel costs at the time. He also stated that taxes account for only 5-6 per cent.

“Lies have been told over this matter, over and over. I have addressed this on national TV, major news platforms, and via my X handle. While the NCAA does not regulate airfares, I have invited all of the domestic airlines, bar none, and asked them about these taxes they keep talking about on TV. They all admitted to not paying the volume of taxes being bandied around.

“I don’t understand this 350k and 81k narrative, but I know that, for the kind of support that President Bola Tinubu, the aviation minister, Festus Keyamo, and the DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo have given to domestic carriers, I see no reason why the government keeps getting thrown under the bus via statements like this.

‎”It is even ironic that, in the same statement, it is alleged that Nigerians pay the lowest domestic airfares in the world while also justifying the astronomical airfares that came to play in December, even though there was no hike in taxes or jet fuel.

‎”If my inviting the airlines themselves, speaking with travel agents, and the relevant departments within the Authority did not agree with the narrative being pushed, I don’t see how this is sustainable. If high taxes were the reason why airfares were 150k-200k, why did tickets well for as high as 500k for a 45-minute trip when the said taxes did not increase?

“‎And this is happening at a time when Festus Keyamo has ensured that domestic carriers now have access to dry lease aircraft, something they have not had in decades. Not a single airline staff I spoke with two weeks ago agreed with the excuses I am reading on social and traditional media,” he said.