The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened disciplinary action against Qatar Airways for alleged mistreatment of Nigerian passengers and disregard for regulatory directives.
Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, disclosed this in a statement via his verified X handle on Friday, accusing the airline of repeatedly violating consumer protection rules under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
He cited a recent case involving a Nigerian passenger who was accused of sexual harassment by a Qatar Airways cabin crew member during boarding in Lagos for a U.S.-bound flight via Doha.
According to Achimugu, the airline failed to report the incident in Nigeria before escalating it in Doha, where the passenger was arrested, detained for 18 hours, fined, and forced to sign a document written entirely in Arabic. Qatar Airways also allegedly denied him onward passage, compelling him to purchase another ticket at huge personal and financial cost.
“The airline 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,” Achimugu declared.
He further warned that Royal Air Maroc and Saudi Air, which had earlier been cautioned for similar infractions, risk severe sanctions if they continue to flout NCAA’s decisions.
The aviation regulator stressed that Qatar Airways’ actions undermined the rights and dignity of Nigerian travelers and vowed that firm penalties would be enforced to protect consumers.
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