The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken decisive regulatory action against Qatar Airways, imposing a N5 million fine for multiple violations of consumer protection regulations.
Repeated Disregard for Nigerian Regulations
According to Michael Achimugu, the NCAA's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the penalty was announced on Wednesday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. The sanction comes after the airline consistently ignored NCAA directives and failed to respond to official Letters of Investigation (LOI).
Achimugu emphasized that this is not an isolated incident, stating that additional LOIs issued to the airline concerning other cases could lead to further sanctions if not properly addressed.
The Trigger Incident
The regulatory action follows a particularly concerning incident that occurred earlier this year. On September 19, 2025, Achimugu had publicly accused Qatar Airways of showing disregard for both a Nigerian passenger and the aviation authority.
The case involved a Nigerian male passenger traveling with his wife on a Lagos-Doha-United States flight. A cabin crew member allegedly accused the passenger of inappropriate conduct during boarding in Lagos, but no report was filed at the Lagos airport. However, upon arrival in Doha, the crew member filed a complaint that resulted in the passenger's arrest and subsequent detention for 18 hours.
During this ordeal, the passenger's wife was reportedly left traumatized. Achimugu insisted the allegation was implausible since the wife had been with her husband throughout the entire boarding process.
Additional Passenger Mistreatment
The situation worsened when the detained passenger was compelled to pay a substantial fine and sign a document written entirely in Arabic - a language he couldn't understand. He signed the document out of desperation to continue his journey.
Despite resolving these issues, Qatar Airways refused to transport the passenger to his final destination, forcing him to purchase a new ticket from another airline at significant personal and financial cost.
Broader Pattern of Non-Compliance
The NCAA spokesperson revealed that Qatar Airways had also failed to engage appropriately in meetings convened to address the matter. The airline's country manager consistently avoided sessions with the Authority, sending subordinates instead.
Furthermore, the airline disregarded all decisions reached during these meetings and ignored multiple complaints escalated by the NCAA, including a recent Letter of Investigation that received no response.
Achimugu highlighted a broader concern about airlines from countries with weaker consumer protection systems sometimes showing disrespect toward Nigerian aviation regulations. He stressed that such behavior is unacceptable and unlawful under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
NCAA's Firm Stance on Consumer Protection
The Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, maintains a strong position on consumer protection enforcement. The NCAA has made it clear that it will apply strict penalties to any airline that repeatedly violates the rules.
Achimugu reiterated that the NCAA's mandate protects both passengers and airlines, emphasizing that the authority remains committed to protecting the rights of all aviation stakeholders in Nigeria.
This regulatory action sends a clear message that the Nigerian aviation authority will not tolerate disregard for its regulations or the rights of Nigerian passengers traveling internationally.
