The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a ₦5 million fine on Qatar Airways for multiple violations of the country's consumer protection regulations. This decisive action was announced by the authority's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, on Tuesday, 19 November 2025.
The Incident That Sparked the Fine
According to the NCAA, the penalty stems from a specific incident involving a Nigerian passenger on a Lagos–Doha–US flight. The regulator detailed that a cabin crew member alleged a male passenger touched her inappropriately during boarding. Crucially, the incident was not reported in Lagos but was only raised after the aircraft landed in Doha.
In Doha, the passenger was arrested and detained for approximately 18 hours. The NCAA stated that the airline then compelled him to sign a document written solely in Arabic, a language he could not read. After being fined by the airline, he was refused permission to continue his journey. The passenger subsequently suffered financial loss and reputational damage, having to purchase a new ticket with another carrier to complete his travel.
A Pattern of Non-Compliance
The authority accused Qatar Airways of treating Nigerian passengers and the NCAA itself with contempt. Michael Achimugu revealed that when the NCAA summoned the airline's country manager to discuss the case, only junior staff members appeared. Furthermore, the airline allegedly ignored a formal letter of investigation and failed to respond to other passenger complaints escalated by the Consumer Protection Department.
This behaviour, the NCAA emphasized, constitutes a breach of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which governs passenger rights and requires airlines to treat passengers fairly, process refunds promptly, and respond quickly to complaints.
Broader Enforcement Context and Warnings
This fine is part of a wider crackdown by the Nigerian aviation regulator. In recent months, several other airlines, including Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airways, Air Peace, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors, have faced sanctions for issues like delayed refunds and baggage mishandling. Kenya Airways recently paid a fine after a similar investigation into passenger treatment.
The NCAA issued a stern warning, stating, "This behaviour stops now." It stressed that international bilateral air service agreements do not exempt airlines from complying with Nigerian consumer protection laws. Achimugu warned that stiff penalties would be imposed on carriers that repeatedly violate the rules, noting that the NCAA has the power to impose financial penalties and even suspend airline operating certificates.
The regulator clarified that these sanctions are designed to be corrective rather than purely punitive, aiming to ensure airlines improve their services to Nigerian travellers. The NCAA remains committed to protecting passengers and has warned that further sanctions may follow if Qatar Airways does not respond satisfactorily to its letter of investigation.
