The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said aggrieved passengers whose rights have been infringed upon by airlines could avail themselves of the opportunities made available by its consumer protection unit to address any issues they might have with the airlines.
NCAA’s Director, Consumer Protection Unit, Mrs. Fatima Garbati, who spoke at this year’s Akwaaba Travel Market in Lagos, during an interactive session with the media said the unit was functional and was positioned to help aggrieved passengers settle any dispute they have with? the airlines.
Garbati, who represented the director-general of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, at the occasion was speaking against the backdrop of increased complaints by customers over missing and delayed baggage by some airlines.
The regulatory authority, which was at the travel fair to create awareness on the services rendered by its? consumer protection unit to air travelers, also talked about some of the things it has done to improve air safety like the attainment of the Category One certification status from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which made it possible for US registered airlines to fly to Nigeria and vice versa, giving examples of some of? the airlines like United Airlines which now operate flights to Nigeria.
Garbati promised that the regulatory authority would continue to initiate programmes that would enhance air safety.
The Managing Director of Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Mr. Michael Williams, in his speech identified the visa regime of the federal fovernment as one of the problems hindering increased tourists arrivals to Nigeria.
He said the conditions for getting Nigerian visa are tough, adding that those in authority needed to review them if Nigeria was to take its place as a tourists destination. He however said Cross River State would continue to improve its tourism products as a means of creating employment and opportunities for its people.
He said the state was embarking on an ambitious programme to make some of its numerous tourism sites ready, explaining that some of the programmes include the establishment of a hospitality college that would? train employees of all hotels and restaurants in Cross River State to world class standard, regular farm trips to acquaint media and travel industry professionals on what the state? was doing to improve what was currently on ground among others.
According to him, the state government was upgrading the Tinapa Resort through the construction of conference centre, while efforts were being made to initiate programmes that would ensure increased human traffic to the resort.