The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reiterated that airlines in Nigeria face strict obligations to support passengers during prolonged flight delays or cancellations, including refreshments, airtime, transport, and accommodation in some cases.
FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, made the statement while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief and further outlined entitlements under existing aviation regulations, which categorize aid based on delay duration and cancellation circumstances.
“For certain hours of delay, you’re supposed to be given refreshment, and then after some more hours of delay, you’re even supposed to be given airtime,” Ijagwu said. “When it gets to where you cancel the flight abruptly… transport will be provided… and accommodation could be provided at certain instances.”
While the NCAA serves as the primary aviation regulator, FCCPC enforces economy-wide consumer protections and depends on passenger complaints to investigate non-compliance. “Most of the time, we discover that airlines are actually not abiding by this, but… we have to depend on consumer complaints,” he added. Violations are confirmed only post-probe.
Telecom Data Woes under Scrutiny
Ijagwu also tackled rampant telecom complaints over rapid data depletion, affirming FCCPC’s case-by-case investigations yield remedies like compensation when infractions are proven.
“We have also confirmed cases… where customers complained that their data disappeared. When those kinds of complaints come to us, we investigate and make determinations, because consumer rights are protected by law” Ijagwu stressed.
The commission has urged reporting via offices, hotlines, or online platforms, while monitoring sectors like housing amid rising urban rents.
