The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that passengers on domestic flights can claim up to $1,000 for lost luggage, while those on international flights are entitled to 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR).
The SDR is a monetary value that can be converted to any global currency, allowing compensation to reflect the value of the missing luggage as declared by passengers.
This information was disclosed by Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, during a press conference in Abuja. Achimugu advised passengers to provide accurate declarations of their luggage contents, warning that false claims could lead to penalties.
In addition, the NCAA outlined fines ranging from N1 million to N100 million or a six-month prison sentence for passengers found guilty of unruly behavior.
Achimugu explained that the compensation process for missing luggage begins after the item is confirmed lost, which is typically within a period of 7 to 21 days.
For delayed luggage, the NCAA requires airlines to provide compensation as well: N10,000 for domestic flights and $170 for international flights. Airlines have up to seven days to locate missing luggage on domestic routes and 21 days for international flights before compensation is due.
Achimugu urged passengers to review Part 19 of the NCAA Act to fully understand their rights, ensuring they are informed and protected against potential airline negligence.
