How I almost lost my child – NCAA Director

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Michael Achimugu, has narrated a distressing early-morning hospital experience which he said exposed a deep-rooted culture of negligence among night-shift workers in Nigeria.

Achimugu disclosed on X that he rushed his daughter to the hospital around 2am for emergency treatment, but was delayed by a cashier who was asleep while payments were required for laboratory tests and medication.

He said repeated attempts to get the cashier’s attention proved futile, as she briefly woke up, muttered a few words and returned to sleep, leaving him waiting for about 10 minutes at a critical moment.

According to him, the situation only changed when a doctor passing by intervened and instructed the cashier to attend to him, while emergency care for the child had already commenced.

Achimugu noted the delay could have had fatal consequences if not for the doctor’s timely intervention.

His daughter was later stabilised and remains under medical observation.

Reacting to the incident, the NCAA spokesperson described the episode as a reflection of a broader problem with night-shift work culture in hospitals, hotels and other service institutions across the country.

He noted that while the demands of night duty can be challenging, workers are expected to remain alert and professional throughout their shifts.

Achimugu drew comparisons with international standards, recalling that in many countries, night-shift staff are required to remain on their feet to ensure prompt service delivery.

He also criticised what he described as a culture of excusing unprofessional behaviour under the guise of empathy, stressing that shift work comes with clear responsibilities.

Narrating further, Achimugu revealed that the NCAA is in the final stages of deploying automated monitoring systems to track officers on night duty in real time.

He said the initiative is aimed at preventing situations where officers claim to be on duty while absent from their duty posts, particularly during night hours.

Achimugu called for stricter standards and accountability for night-shift personnel, noting that emergencies often occur at night when patients and customers are most vulnerable.

He stressed that professionalism and efficiency must not be compromised, regardless of the time of day.