The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened to suspend the operations of Royal Air Maroc in Nigeria over alleged persistent violations of consumer protection regulations and what it described as poor treatment of Nigerian passengers.
The warning was issued on Thursday by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, in a post shared on X, where he accused the Moroccan airline of repeatedly failing to improve its handling of Nigerian passengers despite previous regulatory sanctions.
According to Achimugu, Royal Air Maroc has consistently recorded baggage-related infractions, poor passenger service and slow complaint resolution, making it one of the most frequently reported airlines by Nigerian travellers.
“The airline, Royal Air Maroc, has for the longest time been the biggest culprit when it comes to baggage infractions, poor passenger handling, and extremely poor resolution processes when dealing with Nigerian passengers,” he wrote.
He alleged that the airline regularly fails to promptly notify passengers whose baggage has been delayed, does not consistently provide immediate assistance to affected travellers and often resolves complaints only after intervention by the NCAA.
Achimugu further accused the airline’s Country Manager, Ahmed Boussouf, of repeatedly ignoring invitations to meetings convened by the regulatory authority to address the issues.
“Royal Air Maroc’s country manager, Ahmed Boussouf, will sit in Lagos and refuse to attend meetings in Abuja,” he alleged.
“Instead, the airline will hastily send an email on the eve of the meeting that the cases are being processed, and thereafter, send one Theophilus (their Abuja representative), without authority to resolve cases or make commitments.”
The NCAA official claimed that during one of the engagements held on Thursday, Boussouf responded dismissively to the regulator’s concerns.
“Today, one of those events occurred. In registering our displeasure over this incessant disregard for Nigerian passengers and the Authority, this country manager, Boussouf, said to me, ‘Whatever you want to do, do,’” Achimugu alleged.
He warned that the aviation authority would no longer tolerate what it considers persistent non-compliance with Nigeria’s consumer protection regulations.
Achimugu disclosed that his department would recommend the suspension of Royal Air Maroc’s operations in Nigeria until the airline demonstrates a clear commitment to complying with Nigerian aviation laws and improving its treatment of passengers.
“Strict enforcement will happen against this airline and my department will push for a stoppage of Royal Air Maroc operations in Nigeria until they make a commitment to treat Nigerian passengers better,” he said.
“My department will be taking a very firm stand over this matter, and Royal Air Maroc will stop taking for granted the relationship Morocco has enjoyed with Nigeria and Nigerians.
“We will ensure stiffer penalties against Royal Air Maroc this time. The job we were given to do will be done without fear.”
Achimugu emphasised that international airlines operating under Bilateral Air Service Agreements are expected to comply with Nigeria’s aviation regulations and uphold acceptable standards of passenger service.
He recalled that the NCAA had previously sanctioned Royal Air Maroc alongside Air Peace, Ethiopian Airlines, Arik Air and Aero Contractors on December 28, 2024, for violations of Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023 relating to consumer protection.
According to him, Royal Air Maroc subsequently paid the penalty imposed over the consumer protection breaches in September 2025.
As of the time of filing this report, Royal Air Maroc had not issued any public response to the NCAA’s latest allegations or the threat of suspension.
