An Ibom Air flight from Abuja to Lagos on Thursday was forced to return to the nation’s capital after severe weather conditions made landing unsafe.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who was onboard, described the tense experience in a post on X. According to him, the aircraft departed Abuja around 7:10 AM but was unable to land in Lagos due to poor visibility.
“We took off from Abuja with Ibom Air at about 7:10 AM. Sadly, the plane couldn’t land due to bad weather. After hovering for about 30 minutes in Lagos, the captain changed course,” Effiong wrote.
He added that the aircraft eventually flew back to Abuja, spending a total of two hours in the air.
“We’re back in Abuja. Two hours in the air. The captain handled it well,” he stated.
As at the time of filing this report, Ibom Air had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
Weather-related disruptions have become increasingly common across Nigerian airlines. On September 15, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that Air Peace announced delays across its network following heavy rainfall in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
In a statement signed by spokesperson Osifo-Whiskey Efe, Air Peace explained that adverse weather had affected its operations.
“Due to the heavy downpour of rain in Lagos and Port Harcourt this morning, some flights across our operating networks will be delayed,” the airline said.
Air Peace emphasized that passenger safety remained its top priority and appealed for understanding.
“While weather is beyond our control and safety remains our utmost priority, we appeal for your understanding as we manage the disruptions and get you to your destinations safely,” the statement read.
