The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has accused Qatar Airways of violating consumer protection laws and mistreating Nigerian passengers.
NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu said the airline illegally detained a Nigerian man for 18 hours in Doha after a crew member alleged inappropriate contact during boarding in Lagos.
The accusation, which wasn’t reported until arrival in Doha, led to the man paying a fine and signing an Arabic document he couldn’t understand. His wife, travelling with him, reportedly suffered distress while he was detained.
Despite the man’s eventual release, Qatar Airways allegedly refused to fly him onward, forcing him to buy another ticket at great cost.
Achimugu said the airline ignored NCAA directives on the case and has repeatedly failed to respond to official complaints or attend meetings.
He warned that such disregard for Part 19 of the 2023 Civil Aviation Regulations would no longer be tolerated, stressing that all foreign airlines must respect Nigeria’s laws just as they do in Europe. “This behaviour stops now,” he declared.
