Domestic airlines in Nigeria refunded over ₦1 billion to 5,285 passengers during the second quarter of 2025.

This was disclosed in a post on Monday via the official X account of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which revealed that a total of ₦1.038 billion was refunded between April and June 2025.

“Between the months of April–June (2025), domestic airlines in Nigeria paid refunds to air passengers as follows:   Total Number of Passengers refunded: 5,285. Combined total refunds (in naira): N1,038,505,680.80,” the Authority wrote.

Though the NCAA did not provide further breakdowns, the announcement underscores its ongoing regulatory efforts to enforce passenger rights and ensure airline compliance with compensation obligations.

This development comes amid the NCAA’s recent clarifications that passengers may be entitled to refunds or compensation for cancelled flights, depending on provisions in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.

The authority stressed that a cancelled flight does not automatically entitle a passenger to a seat on the next scheduled flight. Instead, it guarantees a seat on the next available flight with vacant seats. If that flight is fully booked, passengers will not be displaced to accommodate others — in line with global aviation standards.

Additionally, if a cancellation notice is issued at least 24 hours prior to departure, airlines are not obligated to provide further assistance, and passengers are not expected to appear at the airport.

However, when a cancellation notice is not issued within that window and a passenger shows up, the airline must offer care and support. This includes refreshments, hotel accommodation (if needed), rerouting or rebooking on another airline, or financial compensation — subject to availability and the specific case.

To be eligible for compensation, the NCAA reminded passengers that complaints must first be submitted directly to the airline. If unresolved, the matter can then be escalated to the NCAA via official reporting channels. Posts on social media, the agency added, do not count as formal complaints and cannot trigger regulatory action.

For resolutions, passengers are encouraged to file complaints through the NCAA’s consumer protection portal at cpd.ncaa.gov.ng or send emails to:
[email protected],
[email protected], and
[email protected].

The agency also advised travellers to familiarize themselves with Nigeria’s civil aviation regulations to better understand their rights in cases of flight disruptions.