NCAA Slams Qatar Airways with N5 Million Penalty, Demands Full Compliance with Nigerian Aviation Laws
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has fined Qatar Airways N5 million for a series of consumer protection breaches, marking a decisive move by the regulator to curb what it describes as the airline’s persistent disregard for Nigerian aviation laws.
The announcement was made by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, who stressed that the Authority will no longer tolerate behaviour that undermines the rights and dignity of Nigerian passengers.
Achimugu revealed that the latest sanction stems from multiple complaints lodged against Qatar Airways, including unresolved cases for which the NCAA has already issued Letters of Investigation (LOIs).
He warned that the airline’s failure to respond to these LOIs may trigger further penalties, as the regulator intensifies its enforcement of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
He expressed deep concern over the airline’s conduct, noting that Qatar Airways has behaved “as though Nigerian passengers and the NCAA are not deserving of their respect, dignified treatment, and compliance with Nigerian regulations.” According to him, this perceived pattern of disregard has necessitated stronger regulatory intervention.
One of the most troubling incidents involved a male passenger travelling from Lagos to the United States via Doha alongside his wife.
A Qatar Airways cabin crew member alleged that the passenger had touched her inappropriately during the boarding process in Lagos. Significantly, the allegation was not reported while the aircraft was still in Nigeria.
However, on arrival in Doha, the cabin crew member lodged the complaint, leading to the passenger’s arrest and detention for approximately eighteen hours.
Achimugu stated that the passenger’s wife suffered severe emotional and psychological distress during the ordeal, insisting that she had been beside her husband throughout boarding and found the allegation inconceivable.
The detained passenger was subsequently compelled to pay a substantial fine and forced to sign a document written exclusively in Arabic – a language he did not understand – simply to secure his release and continue his journey.
Despite his compliance, Qatar Airways refused to continue transporting him to his final destination, prompting him to purchase new tickets at considerable financial and reputational cost.
Achimugu further disclosed that when the NCAA invited Qatar Airways to discuss the matter and other outstanding complaints, the airline’s country manager – known for evading regulatory meetings – failed to attend, sending junior staff instead.
Following the meeting, the NCAA issued formal determinations, but Qatar Airways allegedly ignored them and has since remained unresponsive to additional complaints escalated by the Authority.
He emphasised that this level of non-compliance is unlawful, stating: “It is against the law for any airline to ignore the NCAA. It is against the law to provide false information. It is against the law to fail to comply with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.”
Achimugu added that some foreign airlines, particularly national carriers from countries with weaker consumer protection frameworks, often treat Nigerian regulations with disdain.
He made it clear that such attitudes would no longer be acceptable, stressing that Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) must be respected by all parties operating in Nigeria.
He reiterated the firm stance of the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, who has consistently championed strong consumer protection enforcement. “We will apply stiff and appropriate penalties against any airline that continually fails to comply,” he said.
In related developments, Achimugu disclosed that Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air have also been queried for consumer protection infractions. Should they fail to meet the NCAA’s compliance requirements, they too will face substantial sanctions.
The NCAA reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rights of all stakeholders – passengers and airlines alike – and pledged to continue enforcing Nigeria’s aviation laws with renewed vigour.
