…Saudi Air, Royal Air Maroc also under scrutiny as sanctions loom
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has come down hard on Qatar Airways, accusing the Gulf carrier of gross misconduct, abuse of Nigerian passengers, and outright defiance of Nigeria’s aviation consumer protection regulations.
Mr. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, disclosed that the airline has consistently violated Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, showing disregard for both passengers’ rights and the authority of regulators.
Shocking Incident Sparks Outrage
The most recent controversy involves a Nigerian couple traveling to the United States through Doha. According to NCAA, a female Qatar Airways cabin crew member accused the male passenger of inappropriate conduct during boarding in Lagos, a claim she never reported at the time.
Upon arrival in Doha, however, the accusation was suddenly raised, leading to the man’s arrest, detention for 18 hours, and humiliation.
“The passenger’s wife, who was with him throughout the boarding process, was left distraught, suffering mental, physical, and psychological trauma while her husband languished in detention,” Achimugu said.
To regain his freedom, the man was compelled to pay a heavy fine and sign documents written entirely in Arabic—despite not understanding the language. Even after this ordeal, Qatar Airways refused to fly him to his final destination, forcing him to purchase fresh tickets at huge personal and financial cost.
NCAA Blasts Disrespect and Non-Compliance
When summoned to explain, Qatar Airways’ country manager reportedly shunned NCAA’s invitation and instead sent subordinates—a pattern Achimugu described as “habitual evasion.”
“The airline ignored NCAA’s determinations, refused to respond to complaints escalated by the regulator, and remained totally silent when issued a formal Letter of Investigation,” he revealed.
“This behavior stops now. It is against Nigerian law for any airline to ignore the NCAA, provide false information, or flout our consumer protection regulations. Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) must be respected equally by all parties. We will not allow airlines to treat Nigerian laws with contempt while diligently obeying those of Europe or other regions.”
Stiff Penalties Looming
The NCAA vowed to apply sanctions without hesitation, reiterating its mandate to protect passengers while ensuring fairness to airlines.
“The Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, has been clear: any airline that disregards our determinations will face the full weight of the law,” Achimugu warned.
He added that Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air are also under NCAA’s radar for similar infractions, with possible sanctions in sight if they continue to flout Nigerian aviation directives.
With this firm stance, the NCAA has signaled that foreign carriers operating in Nigeria must treat passengers with dignity and respect, or risk losing their privileges in Africa’s largest aviation market.
The NCAA has slammed Qatar Airways for passenger abuse and flouting Nigerian aviation laws, warning of heavy sanctions. Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air are also under scrutiny.
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