AFRLENS NEWS
Passengers affected by persistent flight delays and cancellations across Nigeria are entitled to refreshments, airtime, and in some cases accommodation, according to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), as disruptions tied to rising aviation fuel costs continue to ripple through the sector.
FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, said, “If your flight is delayed, you are supposed to be given refreshments. After some more hours of delay, you are supposed to be given airtime. From what we understand from the books and the law, you are supposed to be given airtime because you could be seen to be at least in distress.”
He added that where cancellations occur after prolonged delays, airlines may also be required to provide transport and accommodation depending on the situation. “When it gets to cancelling the flight abruptly, and you had kept consumers all through that time, it’s required even outside of the law… transport will be provided… Apart from that, accommodation could be provided in certain instances,” Ijagwu stated.
The clarification comes amid growing public outrage over stranded passengers at major airports, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where multiple airlines reportedly rescheduled flights repeatedly without offering basic support such as lodging or transportation.
The crisis has been largely driven by a sharp spike in the price of Jet A1 aviation fuel, which industry operators say has surged from about ₦900 per litre in late February to as high as ₦3,300 per litre within weeks—an increase of over 300 percent. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has warned that the cost burden is becoming unsustainable, noting in a letter to the Major Energies Marketers
Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) that “airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone.”
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has also hinted at a potential increase in airfares as a temporary measure to keep domestic airlines operational and avoid a total shutdown.
The ongoing disruptions raise concerns about passenger rights enforcement, regulatory oversight, and the broader stability of Nigeria’s aviation industry. If unresolved, analysts warn the situation could lead to higher ticket prices, reduced flight frequencies, and possible suspension of operations by local carriers—further straining travel, commerce, and economic activity.
For now, the FCCPC’s position underscores that while airlines grapple with operational challenges, consumer protection obligations remain in force, placing pressure on operators to balance rising costs with service accountability.
