Nigerian aviation regulator calls in Air Peace to explain passenger strandedness and recent flight schedule interruptions

Air Peace, the largest airline in Nigeria, has been summoned by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, due to unexplained disruptions that have been occurring, as disclosed by the agency over the weekend.

The NCAA's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, revealed that the agency received complaints from passengers who were on the Heathrow-Abuja flight and were rerouted via Gatwick-Lagos-Abuja, only to be left stranded in Lagos.

Michael Achimugu made this announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he also stated that an investigation would be conducted into these disruptions and appropriate action would be taken.

An urgent meeting with Air Peace has been scheduled to take place at the NCAA headquarters on Monday to address the unexplained disruptions, including the complaints from passengers on the Heathrow-Abuja flight.

The Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA has been activated due to the complaints of delayed refunds, compensations, and other issues, in addition to the cases of stranded passengers.

The NCAA has emphasized that it will not tolerate the abandonment of paying passengers, while also acknowledging its continued support for domestic carriers, and affirming that all operators will be held to the highest standards.

An investigation into the disruptions will be conducted, and any necessary actions will be taken based on the facts of the incident, in accordance with Part 19 of the NCAA regulations 2023.

The NCAA remains committed to protecting the rights of all stakeholders as the sole regulatory agency for civil aviation in Nigeria.