By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a N5 million fine on Qatar Airways for breaching consumer protection regulations, underscoring a firmer regulatory approach toward airlines operating in Nigeria.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, who disclosed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Achimugu noted that additional letters of investigation sent to the airline could result in further sanctions if not adequately addressed.
The sanction follows a series of consumer protection breaches, including a September incident in which a Nigerian passenger was accused by a Qatar Airways cabin crew member of sexual harassment during boarding in Lagos for a flight to the United States via Doha. The passenger was reportedly arrested and detained in Doha for 18 hours, fined, and forced to sign a document written solely in Arabic, while Qatar Airways refused to continue his journey, compelling him to purchase another ticket at his own expense.
According to Achimugu, the NCAA invited Qatar Airways’ country manager to a meeting over the incident, but he failed to attend, sending subordinates in his place. “It is against the law for any airline not to respond to the NCAA, provide false information, or fail to comply with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023,” he said.
The regulator also warned that other carriers, including Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air, have been cautioned for similar infractions and may face heavy penalties if they fail to comply with NCAA directives.
Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023 outlines passenger rights, ensuring fair treatment, accountability by airlines, and clear consumer protection standards. It provides options for passengers whose flights are canceled or disrupted, including full reimbursement, re-routing at the earliest opportunity, or re-routing at a later convenient date, subject to seat availability.
