By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a N6 million sanction on Saudi Airlines over consumer protection-related infractions, in a move aimed at enforcing compliance with aviation regulations and safeguarding the rights of passengers travelling to and from Nigeria.
The regulatory authority said the sanction became necessary after the airline failed to fully address several outstanding consumer protection issues despite being granted additional time to resolve them.
According to the NCAA, it had earlier intervened to prevent a breakdown of law and order at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following an incident involving the airline a few months ago. The authority explained that it subsequently gave Saudi Airlines an extended grace period to resolve pending complaints and comply with determinations issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The NCAA stated that the airline’s failure to satisfactorily meet its obligations under Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Regulations 2023 informed the decision to impose the financial penalty.
The authority stressed that the sanction is intended not only to enforce compliance but also to encourage Saudi Airlines to significantly improve its operations in Nigeria.
It reiterated that passengers who pay for air travel deserve to be treated with dignity, protected from unfair practices and accorded the level of service expected under Nigeria’s aviation consumer protection framework.
The NCAA further assured that it remains committed to supporting Saudi Airlines, alongside other international and domestic carriers, to operate efficiently while ensuring strict adherence to established regulations and the protection of passengers’ rights.
The latest sanction follows an incident involving Saudi Airlines at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja a few months ago, where several Nigerian passengers were left stranded after operational disruptions. The situation triggered anger among affected travellers and nearly degenerated into violence before officials of the NCAA intervened to restore calm. The authority thereafter engaged the airline and granted it time to resolve passengers’ complaints and implement corrective measures before proceeding with the current enforcement action.
