The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed that recent sanctions against five airlines were driven by consumer protection issues, not safety concerns.
The clarification comes after media reports raised doubts about the nature of the penalties.
Michael Achimugu, the NCAA’s Director of Consumer Protection, explained that the sanctions followed delays in refunding passengers, as required by the NCAA’s 2023 regulations.
Airlines including Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airways, Air Peace, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors were penalized for not meeting the refund deadlines.
Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, acknowledged the issue and blamed internal staff delays, vowing to improve response times.
The NCAA emphasised that their actions were solely related to consumer rights and not safety, reaffirming their commitment to fair regulation and transparency.
