The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced its intention to impose sanctions on Qatar Airways following allegations of mistreatment of Nigerian passengers. This declaration was made by Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, via his official X account on Friday.
In his statement, Achimugu highlighted a troubling incident involving a Nigerian passenger who was accused of sexual harassment by a Qatar Airways cabin crew member during boarding in Lagos for a flight to the United States via Doha. The airline reportedly failed to address the allegation in Nigeria, allowing the passenger to be arrested and detained for 18 hours in Doha, where he was fined and forced to sign a document solely in Arabic.
Qatar Airways allegedly refused to continue the passenger’s journey, compelling him to purchase a new ticket at significant financial and reputational cost. The NCAA has warned of penalties against the airline for its repeated disregard of consumer protection regulations under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
Achimugu stated, “The airline @qatarairways has carried on as though Nigerian passengers and the NCAA are not deserving of their respect, dignified treatment, and compliance with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. This will be brought to a stop immediately.”
He further detailed the incident, noting that the cabin crew member did not report the alleged harassment in Lagos, which led to the passenger’s arrest in Doha. Achimugu emphasized the need for compliance with Nigeria’s consumer protection laws, stating that the NCAA will enforce strict penalties against airlines that fail to adhere to these regulations.
The NCAA also mentioned that Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air have received warnings for similar violations and could face severe sanctions if they do not comply with regulatory decisions.
Despite an invitation for a meeting with Qatar Airways’ country manager regarding the incident, the NCAA reported that he sent subordinates instead. The authority criticized the airline for ignoring regulatory determinations and failing to respond to passenger complaints escalated by the NCAA.
Achimugu concluded by reiterating that all airlines must respect Nigeria’s consumer protection rules, just as they comply with regulations in Europe and other regions. He warned that providing false information to the NCAA or disregarding its directives is unlawful, and emphasized the importance of upholding bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) signed with Nigeria.
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