This is the dramatic moment a passenger was dragged off a plane after allegedly refusing to turn off his mobile phone.

The incident occurred aboard an Enugu Air flight scheduled to depart from the state of Enugu to the Nigerian capital Lagos on Monday, September 1.

Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the unruly passenger repeatedly failed to comply with safety instructions on board the Embraer ERJ-190.

Orah added: 'So far, what we have gathered is that a passenger was meant to switch off his mobile phone, but he refused to abide by that instruction.

'Other passengers also asked him to turn off his phone, and when he refused, security personnel on the ground were alerted. The aircraft had to go back to deplane him.'

Footage shows airport staff escorting the traveller in a black floral polo off the aircraft.

The incident occurred just weeks after the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) restated its rule that all mobile phones must be fully switched off during take-off and landing.

Earlier in August, a runway dispute erupted on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos when a female passenger allegedly refused to turn off her phone, insisting it could remain in flight mode.

Although the flight continued, the confrontation resumed after landing, when the holidaymaker, identified by local media as Comfort Emmanson, assaulted a flight attendant. An investigation is ongoing.

Aviation safety regulations require that electronic devices be turned off during critical phases of flight, such as take-off and landing, as they may interfere with aircraft communication and navigation systems.