The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced sanctions against Qatar Airways for alleged violations of Nigerian passengers’ rights and repeated disregard for regulatory directives.
According to the NCAA, the Qatari national carrier failed to comply with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Part 19, 2023) governing consumer protection. The authority cited multiple incidents where the airline reportedly ignored passenger complaints and refused to attend regulatory meetings or respond to official correspondence.
One of the key cases that triggered the action involved a Nigerian passenger traveling from Lagos to the United States via Doha. The passenger was allegedly detained in Qatar for over 18 hours following an altercation claim made by a Qatar Airways crew member. The incident was not reported in Nigeria as required. The passenger was reportedly coerced into signing a document written in Arabic, fined, denied onward travel, and compelled to purchase a new ticket.
The NCAA described the airline’s actions as “a clear breach of Nigerian aviation consumer protection regulations” and vowed to impose “stiff sanctions” to ensure compliance. The regulator also warned that it would no longer tolerate disrespect for Nigeria’s sovereignty or its passengers by foreign airlines.
“Airlines operating into and out of Nigeria must respect the nation’s laws, just as they do in Europe and elsewhere,” an NCAA spokesperson said. “Failure to comply will attract appropriate penalties.”
The authority further indicated that Qatar Airways’ continued failure to engage with its Consumer Protection Department and respond to official queries was “unacceptable.” Similar warnings were also issued to other international carriers, including Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Airlines, for alleged disregard of passengers’ rights.
While the NCAA has not yet specified the exact penalties to be imposed, officials confirmed that the sanctions could include fines or other regulatory actions under the provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.
Qatar Airways has not issued a formal response to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
The NCAA’s move underscores a broader effort to protect Nigerian travelers and ensure that foreign airlines operating in the country uphold global standards of fairness and accountability. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
