Nigeria may consider itself a regional aviation hub but years of mismanagement and now recession have blighted domestic airline operations, making delays and cancellations the norm.

Industry experts say the sector needs a fundamental overhaul, pointing to opaque management practices, rampant corruption and risks for passengers from security and dilapidated infrastructure.

Arik Air, which has a 60 percent share of domestic flights and is the country's biggest private carrier, has found itself increasingly in the firing line of disgruntled passengers.