Nigerian Airlines Refund Over ₦1 Billion to Passengers in Three Months — NCAA

Domestic airlines in Nigeria refunded a total of ₦1.038 billion to 5,285 passengers between April and June 2025, according to data published by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Monday.

“Between the months of April–June (2025), domestic airlines in Nigeria paid refunds to air passengers as follows: Total Number of Passengers refunded: 5,285. Combined total refunds (in naira): N1,038,505,680.80,” the NCAA disclosed in a statement shared via its official X account.

Although the agency did not give a breakdown of the refunds, the announcementhttps://ncaa.gov.ng/ highlights its ongoing regulatory role and commitment to enforcing passenger protection obligations across the aviation sector.

The development follows repeated efforts by the NCAA to clarify what passengers are entitled to under Nigeria’s aviation laws when flight disruptions occur. It said that while passengers may qualify for compensation or refunds in the event of cancellations, such outcomes depend on specific conditions set out in the NCAA Regulations 2023, particularly Part 19.

According to the agency, a cancelled flight does not automatically entitle a passenger to a seat on the next scheduled service. Instead, affected travellers are to be accommodated on the next available flight with open seats.

It also noted that if the next flight is already full, passengers cannot be bumped off for the sake of others — a policy consistent with international aviation standards.

Furthermore, the NCAA clarified that when an airline issues a cancellation notice at least 24 hours before departure, passengers are not required to show up at the airport, and the airline has no further obligation to provide care.

However, if the airline fails to notify passengers within that time frame and the passenger appears at the airport, the airline is legally required to provide assistance — including meals, hotel accommodation where necessary, flight rerouting, rebooking on another carrier, or even financial compensation, depending on availability and circumstance.

The Authority also reminded air travellers that to be eligible for compensation or refunds, a formal complaint must first be submitted directly to the airline. If the matter is unresolved, passengers can escalate it to the NCAA through its official platforms.

“Social media posts alone do not constitute official complaints and cannot prompt regulatory intervention,” the NCAA stressed.

For faster resolution, passengers were encouraged to file complaints through the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Department at cpd.ncaa.gov.ng, or by sending emails to cpd@ncaa.gov.ng, ifueko.abdulmalik@ncaa.gov.ng, and michael.achimugu@ncaa.gov.ng.

The NCAA also urged travellers to become familiar with Nigeria’s civil aviation regulations to better understand their rights when dealing with flight delays or cancellations.