The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed sanctions on five airlines, including Air Peace, Ethiopian Airlines, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, and Royal Air Maroc, over alleged violations of aviation regulations.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, disclosed the development, stating that the sanctions were issued in line with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
The infractions ranged from failure to refund passengers within the stipulated time to non-responsiveness to regulatory directives, incidents of missing and mishandled luggage, short-landed baggage, and recurrent issues with flight delays and cancellations.
The sanctions, announced on December 24, mark the first time in over a decade that the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department has taken enforcement action against airlines.
Acting Director-General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, emphasized during a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday that the authority would not tolerate non-compliance, advising airlines to streamline their schedules to avoid disruptions.
“This is a clear signal that the NCAA is serious about protecting passengers’ rights and ensuring airline accountability,” Najomo said.
He also warned airlines against neglecting official communications and reiterated the authority’s commitment to stricter enforcement measures in the future.
Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading domestic carriers, accepted the sanctions and admitted to certain lapses.
Allen Onyema, the airline’s chairman, acknowledged the infractions during the stakeholders’ meeting and pledged to improve compliance.
“I am glad that this has happened. I have warned my team. This shows that the NCAA knows what they are doing. I will always acknowledge it where the fault is ours,” Onyema stated.
Similarly, Ethiopian Airlines requested further engagement with NCAA and promised to submit a compliance report.
Achimugu confirmed that the airline expressed its readiness to comply with the regulations and had already resolved some reported cases.
Aero Contractors also acknowledged addressing seven out of the 11 infringements outlined in NCAA’s official letter.
Achimugu stressed the importance of formal feedback from airlines after resolving issues brought to their attention, noting that failure to respond to official communication is itself a violation of regulatory guidelines.
Achimugu, speaking with TheCable, highlighted that the NCAA had given airlines ample time to address compliance issues before enforcing penalties.
He noted that many infractions stemmed from external factors, but emphasized that airlines must take responsibility for their operational shortcomings.
“For over 10 years, the consumer protection department of the NCAA has never sanctioned any airline, and that is not right.
“Airlines have not been behaving perfectly all these years,” Achimugu remarked. “This action sets a new standard for accountability in the aviation sector.”
He added that the sanctions demonstrate the NCAA’s renewed commitment to protecting passengers’ rights and ensuring operational excellence in the aviation industry.
As airlines adjust to these enforcement actions, the NCAA has assured the public of its dedication to improving the overall passenger experience.
The authority urged operators to take necessary steps to prevent disruptions and enhance service delivery, warning that any further non-compliance would attract harsher penalties.
The move has been widely seen as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework and ensuring that airlines prioritize consumer protection in their operations.
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