Nigeria’s biggest airline, Air Peace, is facing regulatory scrutiny following a surge of complaints from passengers over unresolved ticket refunds, even in cases where flights were cancelled by the airline itself.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has now stepped in, summoning Air Peace to answer for what it describes as “widespread allegations of consumer mistreatment.”
According to the Commission, the airline is expected to appear at its Abuja office on June 23, 2025, to explain its refund practices and submit documentation on how customer complaints have been handled in the last year.
“This is about holding service providers accountable,” said Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs. “When customers pay for a service and it’s not delivered, they have a right to get their money back, promptly.”
The Commission has requested records detailing refund complaints, cancelled flight routes, refund resolutions, and the measures Air Peace claims to have taken to reduce the hardship faced by affected passengers. Ijagwu stressed that failure to cooperate could result in fines or other legal consequences under the FCCPA 2018.
Although not named in the FCCPC’s official statement, the move follows a recent clash between Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace staff, after the senator claimed passengers were being extorted and denied boarding despite arriving on time. The airline, however, said he was late.
Reports from other passengers supported the senator’s claims, with allegations that some were asked to pay over N109,000 to be moved to a different flight.
The FCCPC says this investigation is part of its broader effort to ensure that airlines, and other service providers, do not take customers for granted.
