The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a ₦5 million penalty on Qatar Airways for violating consumer‑protection regulations. The announcement was made by Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, who said the airline had committed infractions under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
The fine stems from an incident involving a Nigerian passenger who was accused of sexual harassment by a Qatar Airways cabin crew member during boarding in Lagos for a flight to the United States via Doha. The allegation was reported only after the passenger arrived in Doha, where he was arrested, detained for 18 hours, fined and forced to sign a document written solely in Arabic. Qatar Airways then refused to continue his journey, forcing him to purchase another ticket at considerable financial and reputational cost.
The NCAA had invited Qatar Airways’ country manager to a meeting about the incident, but he did not attend and sent subordinates instead. This lack of response and compliance has been a recurring issue. In September, the regulator warned of stiff penalties for the airline’s repeated disregard of its directives.
Achimugu noted that some countries lack advanced aviation consumer‑protection regulations, which can lead airlines from those jurisdictions to treat Nigerian consumer‑protection enforcement with disdain. He emphasized that it is illegal for any airline to ignore the regulator, provide false information, or fail to comply with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
The penalty serves as a reminder of the NCAA’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of air passengers in Nigeria. The regulator’s actions demonstrate its resolve to ensure that airlines operating in the country adhere to consumer‑protection rules, and further sanctions may follow if Qatar Airways does not satisfactorily resolve the outstanding cases. This move is expected to promote a safer and more respectful air‑travel experience for Nigerian passengers.
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