The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has sanctioned Qatar Airways for multiple violations of passenger rights and disregard for aviation consumer protection regulations.
The NCAA spokesperson revealed this development in a video circulating on social media, noting that letters of investigation have also been issued to three other international airlines and one domestic carrier for similar offences.
The aviation regulator and Qatar Airways have reportedly been at odds over a series of complaints lodged by Nigerian passengers.
In one notable case, a Nigerian traveller accused the airline of mishandling an incident involving an allegation of sexual harassment made by a Qatar Airways cabin crew member during boarding in Lagos. Instead of reporting the case to Nigerian authorities before departure, the airline allegedly escalated the matter upon arrival in Doha, where the passenger was detained for 18 hours, fined, and compelled to sign a document written entirely in Arabic a language he did not understand.
The passenger was subsequently denied onward travel to his final destination in the United States, prompting NCAA’s intervention.
Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo Achimugu, stated that the authority would impose penalties on Qatar Airways for its continuous non-compliance with regulatory directives and ordered the airline to refund the passenger’s ticket fare.
“I would like to announce that we have initiated enforcement action against Qatar Airways for various infractions against Nigerian passengers,” Achimugu said. “We have also issued letters of investigation to Air France, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, and domestic carrier Overland for similar violations.”
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He stressed that the regulator would not tolerate any airline foreign or domestic that disregards Nigerian aviation laws, particularly those protecting passenger welfare.
“The message is clear: all airlines must comply with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations,” Achimugu warned. “We will not hesitate to sanction or re-sanction any airline that undermines the rights of Nigerian passengers. When travellers pay for service, they deserve the best treatment.”
He further disclosed that Qatar Airways had yet to respond to NCAA’s correspondence or refund the affected passenger, adding that further sanctions would follow if the airline fails to comply.
“We have made it clear that failure to respond as required will attract additional penalties,” the NCAA spokesperson affirmed.
The NCAA reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair treatment of air travellers and maintaining strict oversight over airlines operating within and into Nigeria.
