NCAA Vows Tough Sanctions as Qatar Airways Faces Allegations of Passenger Abuse, Regulatory Defiance
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has accused Qatar Airways of gross misconduct and disregard for Nigeria’s aviation consumer protection laws, following what it described as a series of infractions against passengers and the regulator.
In a strongly worded statement released on his official X handle, Mr Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, condemned Qatar Airways for acting “as though Nigerian passengers and the NCAA are not deserving of respect, dignified treatment, and compliance with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.”
Achimugu cited a recent disturbing case involving a Nigerian couple travelling from Lagos to the United States via Doha. He explained that during boarding in Lagos, a member of Qatar Airways’ cabin crew accused the male passenger of inappropriate conduct.
The matter was not reported at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, but resurfaced upon arrival in Doha, where authorities arrested the passenger and detained him for approximately eighteen hours.
According to Achimugu, the passenger’s wife, who was with him during the boarding process, dismissed the allegation as unfounded and endured severe distress while her husband was held without care or assistance.
“The authorities in Doha made the man pay a hefty fine and forced him to sign a document written only in Arabic. Desperate to continue his journey, he signed a paper he could not read, but still, Qatar Airways refused to transport him to his final destination. He was compelled to purchase another ticket at significant financial and reputational cost,” Achimugu disclosed.
The NCAA official criticised the airline’s handling of the case and its subsequent refusal to cooperate with the regulator. He alleged that Qatar Airways’ country manager, notorious for avoiding NCAA summons, sent subordinates to meetings and ignored determinations made by the Authority.
Furthermore, the airline reportedly failed to respond to a Letter of Investigation sent by the NCAA concerning this and other passenger complaints.
“This conduct is unacceptable and illegal. It is against the law for any airline to disregard the NCAA, provide false information, or ignore Part 19 of our 2023 Regulations,” Achimugu stated firmly. “When bilateral agreements are signed, they must be respected. No airline will be allowed to treat Nigeria’s aviation laws with contempt while upholding those of Europe or elsewhere.”
He warned that airlines operating in Nigeria must recognise that consumer protection is a core pillar of aviation regulation. The NCAA, he noted, protects airlines as much as it protects passengers, but operators who persistently flout the law would face “appropriate and stiff penalties.”
Achimugu added that Qatar Airways was not the only carrier under scrutiny. He revealed that Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air had also been cautioned for non-compliance with NCAA directives and would be heavily sanctioned if they failed to make amends.
“The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, has always been unequivocal about his stance on consumer rights. Airlines that perpetually fail to comply with our regulations will be sanctioned without hesitation,” he declared.
