The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned Air Peace Limited’s management in response to a slew of consumer complaints from across Nigeria over the failure to refund ticket costs, even when the airline cancelled its flights.
This was stated in a statement issued by the FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, in Abuja and made public on Monday.
According to Ijagwu, the airline’s actions, if proven true, will violate Sections 130(1)(a) and (b) and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which expressly guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds when advance bookings, reservations, or orders are not fulfilled due to the service provider’s failure.
This clause establishes the principle of fair dealing and protects consumers from unfair, unjust, or unreasonable activities by service providers.
In a formal summons dated June 13, 2025, the Commission, invoking Sections 32 and 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, requires Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja Headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The agency’s spokesman said, ”Specifically, Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance, and failure attracts severe sanctions including fines or imprisonment, and the airline is further directed to produce documentary evidence including a complaint log for refunds over the past twelve (12) months, total records of processed refunds to date, a list of cancelled flights on all routes within the past twelve (12) months, and remedial actions taken to mitigate consumer hardship resulting from cancelled flights.”
Remember that in December 2024, the FCCPC opened an investigation intoMs different complaints of exploitative ticket pricing, including significant price increases for advance bookings on some domestic routes by Air Peace. In response, the airline filed legal measures to prevent the Commission from continuing its investigation. This is a very different matter.
“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.” Ijagwu added.
