The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned Air Peace Limited's management to address mounting consumer complaints regarding the airline's alleged failure to refund ticket fares for cancelled flights.
According to a statement released on Monday by FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the airline's conduct potentially violates sections 130(1)(a) and (b) and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
These provisions explicitly guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds when advance bookings or reservations remain unfulfilled due to service provider failure, establishing principles of fair dealing and protecting consumers against unjust practices.
Formal Summons Details
The formal summons, dated June 13, 2025, requires Air Peace representatives to appear at the FCCPC's Abuja Headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025. The Commission invoked sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA 2018, which mandate compliance under threat of severe sanctions including fines or imprisonment.
"The airline is further directed to produce documentary evidence including a complaint log for refunds over the past twelve months, total records of processed refunds to date, list of cancelled flights on all routes within the past twelve months, and remedial actions taken to mitigate consumer hardship resulting from cancelled flights," the agency's spokesman stated.
Previous Investigations
This summons follows previous FCCPC inquiries initiated in December 2024 regarding separate allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including substantial price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes by Air Peace. In response to those earlier investigations, the airline reportedly instituted legal proceedings seeking to restrain the Commission from continuing its inquiry.
Ijagwu emphasized that "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."
The Commission's action highlights growing concerns about consumer rights in Nigeria's aviation sector, particularly regarding ticket refund policies and pricing transparency among domestic carriers.
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