The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a ₦5 million fine on Qatar Airways for what it described as consumer-protection violations, with the regulator cautioning that additional penalties may follow if the airline fails to address other pending cases highlighted in its Letters of Investigation (LOI)
Confirming the development on Wednesday, Micheal Achimugu, NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, said the authority reached the decision after reviewing multiple complaints against the airline. The official added that failure to comply with ongoing investigations “may lead to further sanctions”.
“Glad to announce that, today, the NCAA has sanctioned @qatarairways to the tune of five million naira being penalty for consumer protection-related infractions. In addition, the letters of investigation (LOI) written to the airline over other cases may lead to further sanctions if not treated satisfactorily. As always, the NCAA is committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders,” Achimugu wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The NCAA also criticised the airline’s conduct toward Nigerian passengers, saying Qatar Airways had repeatedly failed to comply with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. According to the authority, one of the cases under review involved a cabin crew member who accused a male passenger travelling with his wife of inappropriate behaviour during boarding for a Lagos–Doha–US flight. The complaint, made only upon arrival in Doha, led to the passenger’s arrest, 18-hour detention, a fine, and the signing of a document written entirely in Arabic. Despite this, Qatar Airways declined to fly him to his final destination, forcing him to buy another ticket at significant personal cost.
The authority further noted that the airline’s country manager had repeatedly avoided meetings, sending subordinates instead, and had failed to comply with determinations from past engagements or respond to subsequent passenger complaints escalated by the NCAA.
The NCAA stressed that such conduct would no longer be tolerated, reiterating that all foreign airlines operating in Nigeria must respect Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) and comply fully with the nation’s consumer-protection rules.
The NCAA also disclosed that Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air have been formally cautioned over separate infractions and will face heavy sanctions if they continue to disregard directives issued by the authority.
