Air Peace airline has offered a 25 per cent discount on a one-way ticket across its domestic routes to lawyer and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, as compensation for a delayed Lagos-Enugu flight. This move is in compliance with a directive by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. Effiong disclosed this in a post on his X page, sharing a copy of an email he received from the airline’s call centre.
The email from Air Peace apologised for the disruption of flight P47100 from Lagos to Enugu on September 21, 2026, and stated that it had approved a discounted ticket, excluding tax, as compensation for the inconvenience. The offer is valid for six months from the date of the email, excluding the period between December 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. To claim the ticket, Effiong was asked to send an email with his old booking reference, scanned copy of his travel passport, and details of his new flight itinerary.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had directed Air Peace to compensate Effiong and other affected passengers after its preliminary investigation found that the airline sent them a wrong notification ahead of the flight. The flight was scheduled to depart Lagos for Enugu at 6:45am on Monday. Effiong had accused the airline of irresponsibility, saying he arrived at Terminal One of the Murtala Muhammed Airport at about 5:50am, only to be told to wait, before it was eventually delayed till 4:50pm.
The disruption caused Effiong to miss a scheduled court appearance in Enugu State. The NCAA’s Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the delay was a ripple effect of an earlier disruption on Sunday night. He directed the airline to compensate affected passengers in line with Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023.
Reacting to the compensation offer, Effiong said the gesture did not address what he described as the airline’s recurring poor service culture. He commended the swift response of Achimugu and the NCAA, but insisted that a stronger regulatory framework was required to protect air passengers’ rights.
Effiong stated that the perennial lackluster, arrogant and frustrating attitude of Air Peace was a fundamental issue that needed to be addressed. While he appreciated the efforts of the NCAA, he emphasized the need for a stiffer and stronger regulatory framework in the aviation industry to protect the rights of air passengers.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by air passengers in Nigeria and the need for airlines to prioritize customer service. The NCAA’s intervention in this case demonstrates its commitment to enforcing regulations and protecting passengers’ rights. Air Peace’s offer of compensation is a step towards resolving the issue, but a more comprehensive approach to addressing the airline’s service culture is required.
Key points
- Air Peace offers 25% discount to lawyer Inibehe Effiong as compensation for delayed Lagos-Enugu flight
- NCAA directs Air Peace to compensate affected passengers for wrong notification ahead of flight
- Lawyer Inibehe Effiong calls for stronger regulatory framework to protect air passengers’ rights
