NCAA Imposes N5 Million Fine on Qatar Airways for Passenger Rights Violation

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a N5 million penalty against Qatar Airways for breaches of consumer protection regulations. The sanction was confirmed on Wednesday via an official statement from Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA.

Achimugu indicated that the airline faces potential additional sanctions, as ongoing investigations into other complaints currently addressed through Letters of Investigation (LOI) remain unresolved. He reiterated the NCAA’s commitment to safeguarding stakeholder rights within Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The penalty follows an incident earlier reported in September 2025, where a Qatar Airways cabin crew member accused a male passenger of inappropriate conduct during boarding in Lagos. The allegation led to the passenger’s detention in Doha for approximately 18 hours, during which his wife experienced significant distress. The passenger was compelled to pay a fine and sign an Arabic document he could not read. Despite being cleared, the airline refused to transport him to his final destination, forcing him to secure alternative travel at considerable personal and financial cost.

Achimugu expressed concern over the airline’s repeated disregard for NCAA directives, noting that the carrier has consistently evaded meetings and ignored subsequent communications, including official letters of investigation. He emphasized that such conduct violates Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations (2023) and terms under the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA).

The Director reaffirmed that all airlines operating in Nigeria must adhere to local consumer protection laws, warning that the NCAA will enforce strict penalties against any carrier that fails to comply with Nigerian aviation regulations.