Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened to push for the suspension of Royal Air Maroc’s operations in Nigeria over persistent consumer rights violations, poor passenger handling and disregard for regulatory directives.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, Michael Achimugu, via his verified X handle yesterday, threatened that the Moroccan carrier could face stricter enforcement measures unless it makes a firm commitment to improving its treatment of Nigerian passengers.

According to him, Royal Air Maroc has consistently ranked among the worst-performing international airlines operating in Nigeria in terms of baggage handling, passenger care and complaint resolution.

Achimugu noted that despite being sanctioned by the NCAA in 2025 for consumer protection-related infractions, the airline had failed to make meaningful improvements.

He alleged that Royal Air Maroc’s Country Manager, Ahmed Boussouf, had consistently declined to honour invitations to meetings at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.

Rather, he accused him of sending representatives without the authority to resolve complaints or make firm commitments on behalf of the airline.

He also accused the country manager of dismissing his calls to him on the need to improve the treatment meted out to Nigerians, telling him, ‘Whatever you want to do, do.’

He described the response as disrespectful to both Nigerian passengers and the country’s aviation regulator.

He insisted that the Nigerian passengers whose complaints had remained unresolved were paying customers who deserved better treatment from any airline, including Royal Air Maroc, stressing that international airlines operating under Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) had obligations to honour, including providing quality service to passengers.

Achimugu threatened that his department would recommend a stoppage of Royal Air Maroc’s operations in Nigeria if the airline failed to demonstrate a commitment to treating Nigerian passengers fairly.

He added that the NCAA, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Director General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, would not tolerate non-compliance with aviation regulations or disregard for passenger rights.