The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has fined RwandAir N15 million over a consumer protection violation involving the airline’s failure to resolve a passenger’s damaged baggage complaint within the stipulated timeframe.
Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, disclosed the sanction in a post on his X handle.
According to Achimugu, the airline was fined for failing to resolve the baggage-related complaint within the timeframe prescribed by Nigeria’s aviation consumer protection regulations.
In addition to the N15million fine, the NCAA directed RwandAir to replace the passenger’s damaged bag and pay $170 as first-need compensation.
Achimugu stated: “The NCAA has sanctioned Rwand Air for consumer protection-related infractions. The airline has been fined a sum of N15million for its failure to resolve a baggage issue within stipulated timeframe.
“In addition, Rwand Air has been asked to replace the passenger’s damaged bag and pay 170 dollars as first need compensation as stipulated by Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023,” he wrote.
The compensation is provided for under Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which sets out consumer protection obligations for airlines operating in Nigeria.
The NCAA’s action underscores the regulator’s enforcement of passenger rights and its insistence that airlines resolve consumer complaints within prescribed timelines.
The authority has in recent years intensified its monitoring of airlines over complaints involving delayed and cancelled flights, baggage mishandling, refunds and other consumer protection issues.
The latest sanction comes as the NCAA continues to warn airlines that failure to comply with Nigeria’s aviation consumer protection rules could attract regulatory penalties
