Oshiomhole: FCCPC summons Air Peace over flight cancellations, unpaid refunds

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited following multiple complaints from passengers regarding non-refunded ticket fares, even in cases where the airline cancelled scheduled flights.

In a formal notice dated June 3, 2025, the Commission directed Air Peace to appear at its Abuja headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025, to answer mounting public outrage and charges of consumer rights breaches.

On Monday in Abuja, Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs, issued a statement revealing the decision.

Ijagwu claimed that the airline’s actions violated Sections 130(1)(a) and (b) as well as 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which provide consumers the right to quick refunds when bookings or reservations are not honoured owing to a service provider’s failure.

He added that the summons was issued pursuant to Sections 32 and 33 of the Act, which require Air Peace to submit certain documented evidence.

This comprises a complaint log of refund-related issues over the last 12 months, records of all processed refunds to date, a list of all cancelled flights on all routes during the same time period, and steps done to alleviate hardship for impacted passengers.

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The statement read: “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has summoned the management of Air Peace Limited over a deluge of consumer complaints from across the country relating to the non-refund of ticket fares, even in instances where the airline had cancelled its flight operations.

“These actions potentially contravene Sections 130(1)(a) and (b) and 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which expressly guarantee consumers the right to timely refunds where advance bookings, reservations, or orders are unfulfilled due to a service provider’s failure. This provision enshrines the principle of fair dealing and safeguards consumers against unfair, unjust, or unreasonable practices 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 2018, requires Air Peace to appear before the Commission at its Abuja Headquarters on Monday, June 23, 2025.

“Specifically, Section 33(3) of the FCCPA mandates compliance, and failure attracts severe sanctions, including fines or imprisonment.”

Although not stated in the statement, the summons comes only days after Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Air Peace staff were involved in a dispute over suspected extortion of Nigerian passengers.

The senator stated that he missed a flight due to airline executives’ racketeering. While Air Peace claimed that Oshiomhole arrived late at the airport, the senator insisted that he, along with other angry passengers, saw workers boarding passengers who arrived later.

Oshiomhole claimed that 20 to 30 other customers were treated similarly, with airline workers allegedly seeking an extra N109,100 to reschedule them for an 8:30 a.m. flight.

Oshiomhole: FCCPC summons Air Peace over flight cancellations, unpaid refunds

NASS members may declare Tinubu Life President

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has taken a swipe at the 10th National Assembly, accusing its members of abandoning their constitutional duties in favour of blind loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.

Dalung, in a fiery critique during a recent interview with Sun, described the current legislature as more than just a “rubber stamp,” claiming it has become a chorus line devoted to singing the praises of the president at every opportunity.

“I disagree with those calling it a rubber stamp. This 10th Assembly is a band of choristers for the president,” Dalung said. “Anytime Tinubu steps into the chamber, they behave like excited grandchildren welcoming their grandfather. They burst into songs.”

The former minister recounted one such moment, stating that he was alarmed by the song he thought he heard from the floor of the Assembly.

“The last one they sang, I had a problem with my ears. What I heard was: ‘On your dollar we shall stand. On your dollar, Tinubu, on your dollar we shall stand.’ Everyone was singing and dancing. Others claimed they heard something different, but that’s what I heard,” he added.

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Dalung said the behavior of the lawmakers goes beyond passive endorsement and borders on absolute submission, warning that such a climate could lead to grave constitutional breaches.

“I’m afraid that this 10th Assembly may wake up one day and, with a voice vote, amend the constitution and appoint Tinubu as life president of Nigeria,” he said.

He did not spare Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his criticism, suggesting that the legislative process has become so compromised that major constitutional decisions could now be passed without scrutiny or debate.

“Akpabio might just walk in one day and say, ‘We have a report that the constitution now appoints Tinubu as life president. Those in favour say aye.’ Before anyone could raise an objection, he would strike the gavel and declare, ‘the ayes have it.’ That’s the kind of National Assembly we are dealing with.”

Dalung concluded by dismissing the label of “rubber stamp” as inaccurate, arguing that even a rubber stamp implies there is a document to endorse.

“This Assembly doesn’t need anything on the table. Even a dream or a whisper from Tinubu is enough to spark legislative action. They are not rubber stamps; they are ‘Emi Lokan’ choristers,” he said, using Tinubu’s now-famous slogan to underscore his point.

NASS members may declare Tinubu Life President

US considers placing travel ban on Nigeria, 35 others

The United States (US) government, under President Donald Trump, is considering fresh travel restrictions that could affect Nigeria and dozens of other countries.

According to The Washington Post, a confidential memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlines a proposal to impose visa limitations or outright entry bans on nationals from 36 countries, unless they comply with new standards set by the US State Department within 60 days.

This marks a significant expansion of earlier proposals that targeted travel from select nations.

The latest document suggests the administration may move to enforce broader visa sanctions unless the countries in question demonstrate reforms in document verification and identity security systems.

“The new list includes Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

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“The memo identified varied benchmarks that, in the administration’s estimation, these countries were failing to meet. Some countries had ‘no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents or other civil documents,’ or they suffered from widespread government fraud.”

Other countries under review include Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The listed countries are expected to submit an initial compliance plan to the US State Department by Wednesday, detailing steps to meet the new requirements.

Back in March, the Trump administration had floated a similar travel ban proposal involving 43 nations, though Nigeria was not among them at the time. Those nations were grouped into three categories: red, orange, and yellow. The red group faced complete travel bans, the orange group had visa access heavily restricted, and the yellow group was given a 60-day deadline to resolve specific concerns.

If implemented, this new measure could have far-reaching implications for travel and diplomatic relations between the affected countries and the United States.

US considers placing travel ban on Nigeria, 35 others