Nigeria’s aviation regulator has warned domestic airlines that they could face sanctions over persistent flight delays and failure to properly care for passengers.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it has recorded repeated breaches of consumer protection rules, particularly during periods of flight disruption.
In a statement posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the warning followed an inspection of the Abuja operations of three local airlines — Xejet, Rano Air and United Nigeria Airlines.
The regulator said many airlines fail to provide passengers with timely and accurate information when flights are delayed. It also accused some operators of deliberately avoiding their obligation to offer light refreshments to passengers after a delay of two hours, as required by aviation regulations.
Mr Achimugu described the situation as unacceptable, especially during the busy December travel season, when flight disruptions are more frequent.
“While we understand the unique challenges of December, airlines must still provide the necessary care for passengers at a time like this,” he said.
The NCAA said it has issued an ultimatum to airlines to comply fully with consumer protection provisions contained in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. It stressed that the warning applies to all domestic airlines, not only those recently inspected.
The authority added that it is closely monitoring airline operations and will take enforcement action against any operator that continues to violate passengers’ rights.