The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a ₦5 million penalty on Qatar Airways, accusing the airline of persistent breaches of consumer protection rules and a pattern of disregarding Nigerian passengers as well as regulatory directives.
The sanction follows multiple unresolved complaints and the airline’s alleged refusal to comply with decisions issued by the aviation authority.
In a statement shared on his social media, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the regulator had moved to halt what it views as Qatar Airways’ consistent lack of respect for Nigerian travellers and aviation regulations.
Achimugu said the airline had acted as though both the NCAA and Nigerian passengers were undeserving of dignity or adherence to Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, stressing that the fine signals the beginning of more rigid enforcement actions.
One of the cases that prompted the regulator’s intervention involved a man travelling with his wife from Lagos to the United States through Doha. A Qatar Airways crew member accused him of inappropriate touching while she assisted another passenger during boarding at the Lagos airport. Although the claim was not reported in Nigeria, the crew raised it after landing in Doha, resulting in the passenger’s arrest, 18-hour detention, and a substantial fine.
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The passenger was reportedly compelled to sign a document written entirely in Arabic without interpretation before he was released. Qatar Airways then allegedly refused to complete his trip, forcing him to buy new tickets at significant cost and distress.
The NCAA added that its attempts at dialogue were frustrated by the airline’s country manager, who repeatedly avoided meetings and sent junior staff instead. The regulator said Qatar Airways also failed to respond to a formal Letter of Investigation, contrary to Nigerian aviation regulations.
