The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed that passengers on domestic flights can no longer rely on airplane mode. Instead, all mobile phones must be completely switched off during take-off and landing, a move that has sparked complaints from Nigerian content creators and frequent flyers.
For many digital entrepreneurs and online storytellers, airplane mode has long been a safe option to remain productive in the air—editing videos, drafting scripts, or scheduling content while disconnected from the internet. Now, with the ban in place, creators say their in-flight workflow will be heavily disrupted.
“Airplane mode allowed us to work without interference from network signals. Forcing a total shutdown feels like a step backwards,” one Lagos-based creator lamented.
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Confirming the development on X (formerly Twitter), NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu explained that airlines across Nigeria must immediately update their safety manuals. He added that the use of airplane mode might be reconsidered in the future “as technology evolves.”
The decision came after an emergency aviation stakeholders’ meeting linked to an incident involving a passenger, Comfort Emmanson, during an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
While the NCAA insists the directive prioritizes passenger safety, many creators say it will make flights feel “longer, less productive, and more restrictive”—especially for those who run their businesses primarily from mobile devices.
