The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has penalised a domestic airline, XEJET Airways, with a fine of ₦2 million for violating passenger protection rules.
The sanction was announced as part of the regulator’s ongoing effort to ensure that airlines operating in Nigeria treat passengers fairly and comply with established aviation standards.
According to the NCAA, the penalty relates to breaches of consumer protection regulations. These rules are meant to protect air travellers from poor treatment, flight disruptions, and service failures by airlines operating within the country.
Although the authority did not publicly disclose the exact incidents that led to the sanction, it confirmed that XEJET Airways was found to have fallen short of expected standards in handling passenger-related issues.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, confirmed the development, stating that the airline had been officially fined.
He explained that while the regulator is committed to enforcing compliance across the aviation sector, it also takes into account the challenging operating conditions faced by domestic airlines.
According to him, the NCAA tries to balance strict enforcement with industry survival, ensuring that penalties do not push airlines out of business.
He noted that the ₦2 million fine was deliberately kept at a manageable level. This, he said, is to ensure that airlines can continue operations while still being held accountable for their actions.
Achimugu emphasised that the purpose of the sanction is not to generate revenue for the government but to correct poor practices and improve service delivery in the aviation sector.
He further stressed that regulatory actions like this are aimed at ensuring passengers receive better treatment, improved communication, and more reliable flight services.
In his words, the goal is to make airlines more responsible and responsive to customer needs rather than simply punishing them.
Meanwhile, the development comes at a time when air travellers in Nigeria continue to express frustration over frequent flight delays, cancellations, and poor customer service.
Many passengers have also complained about inadequate communication from airlines when disruptions occur, leaving travellers stranded or uninformed for long periods.
These ongoing issues have increased pressure on the NCAA to adopt stronger enforcement measures against defaulting airlines to restore public confidence in the aviation system.
Some passengers welcomed the sanction, describing it as a positive step toward improving accountability in the sector.
One traveller, Adeniran Jones, said the penalty sends a strong message that airlines must treat passengers better or face consequences.
According to her, stricter enforcement will encourage airlines to improve their operations and reduce cases of neglect or poor service.
On the part of XEJET Airways, the airline acknowledged the sanction but declined to give full details. A spokesperson for the airline, Juliet Atikpekpe, said the matter was being handled internally and by the relevant authorities, adding that further comments would be provided later.
The NCAA has continued to maintain that it will enforce compliance across all domestic airlines while also ensuring that the industry remains stable and operational in Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.
