.Abuja, Nigeria—A concerned victim, policy analyst, and good governance advocate, Abdallahi Idris Muhammed (AIM), has strongly criticised Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, accusing the ministry of running the sector “as if it is funded by airlines rather than Nigerian taxpayers.”
Muhammed made the remarks during a high-level stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, where he faulted the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for what he described as systematic failure to protect air passengers despite existing laws and regulations.
According to him, Nigerian travellers are routinely exposed to flight delays, missing luggage, poor customer service, and weak regulatory enforcement, while authorities appear quicker to discipline frustrated passengers than to hold defaulting airlines accountable.
“At every turn, Nigerians bear the consequences of airline misconduct — delayed flights, lost luggage, and disregard for passenger rights,” Muhammed said. “Yet the system reacts swiftly only when passengers protest. The ministry must remember it is funded by taxpayers, not airline operators.”
Concerns Over NCAA Enforcement
Muhammed referenced provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) 2023, particularly Part 19, which mandates airlines to compensate passengers for mishandled baggage — ₦10,000 for domestic flights and up to $170 for international routes, alongside defined timelines for baggage delivery.
While acknowledging that the NCAA has occasionally fined airlines — including a reported ₦5 million penalty imposed on Qatar Airways for consumer protection breaches — he argued that such sanctions rarely translate into direct relief for affected passengers or meaningful behavioural change.
He alleged that passengers who escalate complaints through regulatory or media channels often face warnings or administrative pressure, while airlines that fail to meet statutory obligations experience delayed or limited enforcement.
Qatar Airways Luggage Ordeal
Drawing from personal experience, Muhammed revealed that during a recent international trip, Qatar Airways delayed his checked luggage and allegedly failed to provide full compensation in line with Nigerian regulations and international conventions.
According to him, the airline delivered the baggage late, offered only a nominal settlement, and insisted he personally retrieve the luggage — actions he says contradict established passenger rights.
“Even where fines are announced, passengers remain out of pocket,” he said. “It is unacceptable for airlines to ignore obligations while regulators move slowly.”
EU and UK Comparison: British Airways Example
Muhammed contrasted Nigeria’s enforcement culture with regulatory systems in Europe and the United Kingdom, citing the EU EC261/2004 regulation, which guarantees passengers compensation ranging from €250 to €600 depending on flight distance and delay duration.
He recalled a separate experience with British Airways, where compensation processes were promptly initiated and resolved once eligibility was established.
“In Europe, airlines comply because the penalties are real and enforcement is swift,” he said. “In Nigeria, the laws exist on paper, but the enforcement muscle is weak.”
He described it as “hypocritical” for regulators to move quickly against angry passengers while remaining slow or hesitant in sanctioning airlines that refuse to compensate travellers.
Legal Framework Still Weakly Enforced
Under Nigerian law, the Montreal Convention 1999, domesticated into national aviation statutes, guarantees compensation for delayed, lost, or damaged baggage. NCAA’s First Need Compensation Policy also mandates airlines to meet passengers’ immediate needs when baggage is delayed.
However, Muhammed argued that enforcement gaps, slow investigations, and lack of public accountability undermine the effectiveness of these protections.
Call for Reform
He urged the Minister of Aviation to urgently refocus the ministry’s priorities toward passenger protection, calling for:
- stronger and faster enforcement mechanisms
- transparent publication of sanctions and compliance outcomes
- simplified compensation procedures
- improved public education on passenger rights
- enhanced parliamentary oversight of aviation regulators
“Nigerian travellers deserve dignity, fairness, and protection,” Muhammed said. “The system must work for the people who fund it.”
Newspot Nigeria reports that aviation consumer rights continue to generate nationwide concern, as passengers increasingly demand stronger accountability from both regulators and airline operators.
