The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that five airlines—three domestic and two international—are set to face penalties for breaching regulations under Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs). These violations include non-payment of refunds within the stipulated timeframe, non-compliance with NCAA directives, mishandled and missing luggage, short-landed baggage, as well as delayed and cancelled flights.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, disclosed this development but withheld the names of the affected airlines. He emphasized that while airlines are not always directly responsible for flight disruptions, they are required to adhere to stipulated actions outlined in NCAA regulations. Failure to comply, he said, would attract varying degrees of sanctions.
Achimugu reiterated the NCAA’s commitment to consumer protection, stating, “This is not hot air. The Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA has done a lot to sensitize passengers and protect the business of operators. The time has come for airlines to repay the good faith and support they have received from the regulator.”
He also noted that NCAA’s Consumer Protection Officers (CPOs) have been directed to enforce compliance without pursuing non-compliant airlines. “Every case of non-compliance will be met with adequate sanctions. Not a single airline will say that they have not been given a listening ear. The Authority has been balanced,” Achimugu added.
The announcement follows a stern warning issued by the NCAA on December 9, cautioning airlines against refund delays and other lapses. The aviation authority remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring accountability and fostering trust between passengers and operators in the Nigerian aviation sector.
