The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently clarified that its sanctions against five airlines were aimed at addressing consumer protection issues, not safety concerns, following some confusion in the media.
In a statement, Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Consumer Protection and Public Affairs, explained that the sanctions were related to delays in processing passenger refunds and not due to any safety lapses. He said, “I’ve always made it clear that my department focuses on consumer protection, not technical matters. We take such issues seriously, but we don’t want to sensationalize them.”
This clarification came after the NCAA took enforcement actions against airlines including Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airways, Air Peace, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors for not complying with the regulations on timely refunds to passengers, as set out in the NCAA Regulations 2023.
In addition, the acting Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, called for an emergency meeting with airline operators to find solutions to the growing concerns over flight delays and cancellations. He urged airlines to adjust their schedules based on the number of aircraft available and handle customer complaints more promptly.
Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, responded to the sanctions by acknowledging some internal delays in refund payments. He expressed his disappointment that such issues affected passengers and confirmed that the airline would take immediate steps to improve its refund processes.
The NCAA’s actions underline its commitment to protecting passengers and ensuring that airlines treat their customers fairly and promptly, reinforcing its role as a trusted regulator in the aviation industry.
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