Two months after sounding a sharp warning, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has fined Qatar Airways ₦5 million for multiple consumer-protection breaches.
The penalty was announced on November 19 via the official X (Twitter) handle of the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, (@mikeachimugu01).
According to Achimugu, the sanction stems from Qatar Airways’ continued disregard for NCAA determinations and its failure to respond to several letters of investigation. He added that additional unresolved cases could attract more penalties if the airline fails to offer satisfactory responses.
The fine follows a disturbing incident Achimugu made public on September 19. In that case, a cabin crew member allegedly accused a male passenger of misconduct while assisting with boarding on the Lagos–Doha route. The claim was later proven false, yet the passenger was detained for nearly 18 hours in Doha, forced to pay fines, and compelled to sign a document written solely in Arabic—a language he could not understand. Even after clearing him, Qatar Airways reportedly refused to fly him onward, pushing him to buy new tickets at his own expense.
In his November update, Achimugu reiterated the regulator’s stance on compliance, saying the NCAA remains committed to protecting the rights of all aviation stakeholders. He stressed that Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023 requires all airlines operating in Nigeria to respect consumer-protection standards, warning that providing false information or ignoring regulatory directives is unlawful.
Qatar Airways is not the only carrier under scrutiny. Achimugu confirmed that Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air have also been formally cautioned for similar issues and may face sanctions if they fail to comply with NCAA rulings.
By imposing the fine two months after its initial warning, the NCAA signals that it will follow through on enforcement and will not overlook violations.
The sanction underscores the authority’s commitment to due process, accountability, and the protection of air travellers in Nigeria.
