The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited in response to significant consumer complaints over the airline’s unwillingness to refund ticket fees, even when flights were cancelled by the airline itself.
The FCCPC claims that these purported actions could violate Sections 130(1)(a) and (b), as well as 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which ensure consumers the right to prompt refunds when pre-paid services are not provided due to the provider’s shortcomings.
“This provision enshrines the principle of fair dealing and safeguards consumers against unfair, unjust, or unreasonable practices by service providers,” the Commission stated.
In a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, the FCCPC, exercising its powers under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, ordered Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its headquarters in Abuja on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The Commission emphasised that Section 33(3) of the FCCPA requires compliance, warning that refusal to appear could result in severe punishment, such as fines or jail.
Air Peace has also been directed to submit several documents, including complaint logs for refunds over the last 12 months, total records of processed refunds to date, a list of all cancelled flights across all routes within the past year, and remedial actions taken to reduce the hardship faced by affected consumers.
This summons follows a separate investigation launched in December 2024 into allegations of exploitative pricing and inflated ticket costs on domestic routes.
In response to that inquiry, Air Peace had filed a legal suit seeking to stop the Commission’s investigation. However, the FCCPC clarified that the current summons pertains to a distinct issue.
“The FCCPC remains committed to enforcing the provisions of the FCCPA (2018) and holding service providers accountable and ensuring that consumers, including airline passengers, are protected from exploitative or unfair market practices,” said Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC.
The Commission reiterated its dedication to protecting consumer rights and ensuring fair treatment in Nigeria’s aviation sector.