Nigeria's aviation regulator has issued one of its strongest warnings yet to an international airline, accusing Royal Air Maroc of repeatedly violating passenger rights and disregarding regulatory directives. The dispute highlights growing efforts by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to enforce consumer protection standards as complaints against airlines continue to draw public attention.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened to suspend the operations of Royal Air Maroc in Nigeria over what it describes as persistent violations of consumer protection regulations and poor treatment of Nigerian passengers.

The warning was issued on Thursday by the NCAA's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, through a public statement on X.

According to Achimugu, Royal Air Maroc has repeatedly been involved in baggage-related complaints, poor passenger handling, and delayed resolution of customer grievances despite previous enforcement actions by the regulator.

He alleged that affected passengers are often not promptly informed about delayed baggage, receive inadequate assistance, and frequently obtain resolutions only after the NCAA intervenes.

Achimugu also accused the airline's Country Manager, Ahmed Boussouf, of repeatedly failing to honour invitations to regulatory meetings in Abuja, claiming representatives sent by the airline lacked the authority to resolve complaints or make binding commitments.

The NCAA official further alleged that during a recent engagement, the country manager responded dismissively when confronted over the airline's handling of passengers.

As a result, Achimugu said his department would recommend suspending Royal Air Maroc's operations in Nigeria until the airline demonstrates compliance with Nigerian aviation regulations and significantly improves its treatment of passengers.

At the time of publication, Royal Air Maroc had not publicly responded to the allegations.

Punch Newspapers focused on the NCAA's allegations against Royal Air Maroc, highlighting the regulator's frustration with repeated consumer complaints and its threat to suspend the airline's operations.

Official NCAA communications over the past two years have consistently emphasized stricter enforcement of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, which governs passenger rights, refunds, baggage handling, and complaint resolution. The authority has repeatedly stated that enforcement actions relate to consumer protection rather than aviation safety.

Other aviation reports have noted that the NCAA has recently intensified regulatory action against both domestic and international carriers over passenger rights, signalling a broader shift toward stronger consumer protection enforcement rather than isolated sanctions.

Much of the initial coverage focused on the threat of suspension itself. Less attention was given to the wider regulatory trend showing that the NCAA has increasingly used sanctions and public warnings to pressure airlines into improving customer service standards.

The confrontation reflects a broader change in Nigeria's aviation regulatory environment, where consumer protection has become a more visible enforcement priority.

Over recent years, Nigerian passengers have increasingly reported complaints involving delayed baggage, flight disruptions, refund delays, and poor communication from airlines. These issues have placed regulators under pressure to demonstrate that passenger rights are being actively protected.

The NCAA has responded by applying stricter enforcement under the NCAA Regulations 2023, issuing financial penalties against airlines found to have violated consumer protection rules and publicly naming operators that repeatedly fail to comply.

For international airlines operating under Bilateral Air Service Agreements, compliance extends beyond maintaining flight schedules. Operators are also expected to meet Nigerian consumer protection standards, cooperate with regulators, and resolve passenger complaints within prescribed timelines.

Should the NCAA proceed with a suspension recommendation, it would send a strong signal that regulatory enforcement is increasingly focused not only on operational safety but also on customer service and accountability.

Royal Air Maroc is not facing regulatory scrutiny for the first time.

In December 2024, the NCAA sanctioned Royal Air Maroc alongside Air Peace, Ethiopian Airlines, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors for violations of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023, stressing that the actions related specifically to consumer protection infractions rather than safety concerns.

According to Michael Achimugu, Royal Air Maroc later paid the financial penalty imposed following those enforcement actions in September 2025.

The NCAA has continued to expand enforcement throughout 2025 and 2026, recently sanctioning other airlines over passenger rights violations while reiterating that travellers in Nigeria must receive timely refunds, proper baggage handling, and prompt complaint resolution.

Whether the regulator ultimately suspends Royal Air Maroc's Nigerian operations will likely depend on the airline's response to the allegations and its willingness to address the concerns raised by the NCAA.

The case may also become an important test of how aggressively Nigeria intends to enforce passenger rights against international carriers. As regulators continue to strengthen consumer protection oversight, airlines operating in the country may face greater scrutiny over service quality, complaint handling, and regulatory compliance.