Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Imposes N5 Million Fine on Qatar Airways for Passenger Rights Violation.

• The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has slammed Qatar Airways with a ₦5 million fine for consumer protection violations.
• NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu announced the sanction on Wednesday, saying the airline repeatedly ignored the Authority’s determinations and letters of investigation.
• Michael Achimugu added that more penalties could follow if outstanding cases are not resolved, stressing that the NCAA remains committed to safeguarding travellers’ rights.

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 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.

NCAA Accuses Qatar Airways of Contempt for Nigerian Passengers

• The development follows the NCAA’s September 19 accusation that Qatar Airways exhibited disregard for Nigerian travellers and violated multiple provisions of the consumer protection law.
• At the time, the authority warned that it would apply stiff penalties on any carrier—foreign or domestic—that continues to breach aviation rules or mistreat passengers.
• “Glad to announce that, today, the NCAA has sanctioned @qatarairways to the tune of five million naira being penalty for consumer protection-related infractions,” Achimugu wrote.
• He added that additional Letters of Investigation (LOI) had been issued to the airline, noting that further sanctions may follow if the pending cases are not satisfactorily resolved.

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.

The latest action against Qatar Airways reinforces the NCAA’s stance that non-compliance with consumer protection laws will attract immediate consequences, especially as passenger traffic continues to rise across the country’s airports.

On December 28, 2024, the regulator had penalised multiple carriers, Air Peace, Ethiopian Airlines, Arik Air, Aero Contractors and Royal Air Maroc, under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations of 2023.