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HURIWA Applauds Landmark Court Judgment Affirming FCCPC Authority, Demands Sweeping Enforcement to End Systemic Consumer Exploitation in Aviation Sector

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National Coordinator HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) declares that the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja upholding the authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is not just a routine legal victory, but a historic and long-overdue liberation for Nigerian consumers who have suffered years of unchecked exploitation in the aviation sector.

HURIWA emphasizes that this bold and uncompromising decision has finally shattered the dangerous culture of corporate impunity that allowed airlines to operate above the law, often at the expense of ordinary Nigerians. The ruling stands as a powerful judicial rebuke to systemic abuse, and a clear affirmation that consumer rights are not optional privileges but enforceable legal guarantees.

The Association therefore praises the court for restoring hope, strengthening regulatory authority, and placing the burden of accountability squarely where it belongs—on service providers who must now answer for their conduct.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) wholeheartedly commends the Federal High Court in Abuja for its courageous and far-reaching judgment affirming the statutory powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate and act on consumer complaints within Nigeria’s aviation sector, including disputes involving Air Peace Limited.

This landmark ruling represents a decisive victory for millions of Nigerian consumers who have, for years, endured persistent abuse, neglect, and exploitation at the hands of domestic airline operators.

By upholding the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, the court has reaffirmed the supremacy of consumer rights, regulatory accountability, and the rule of law over corporate impunity. By the way, a long cherished business maxim says that CUSTOMER IS KING.

HURIWA views this judgment not merely as a legal pronouncement, but as a critical turning point in the long-standing struggle to restore sanity, fairness, and transparency in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
A Pattern of Systemic Abuse Against Nigerian Air Travelers

For far too long, Nigerian passengers have been subjected to a troubling pattern of rights violations, particularly involving major domestic carriers such as Air Peace. These violations are not isolated incidents but form part of a broader, deeply entrenched culture of disregard for consumer welfare.
Among the most prevalent complaints are:
• Exploitative Pricing and Alleged Price Fixing: During peak travel seasons—especially Christmas, New Year, and other festive periods—airfares are arbitrarily inflated to unjustifiable levels, suggesting coordinated price manipulation that places undue financial burden on citizens.
• Arbitrary Flight Cancellations and Rescheduling: Airlines frequently cancel or alter flight schedules at short notice without providing passengers with immediate alternatives, adequate compensation, or timely refunds, leaving travelers stranded and distressed.
• Chronic Refund Delays: In clear violation of consumer protection standards, passengers often wait weeks or even months to recover funds for unused or cancelled tickets, with little communication or accountability from the airlines.
• Mishandling and Loss of Luggage: Numerous passengers have reported missing, delayed, or damaged luggage, with airlines failing to provide compensation or transparent resolution processes.
• Touting and Ticket Racketeering: HURIWA has received credible reports of individuals allegedly linked to airline operations engaging in profiteering schemes—reselling already booked tickets, demanding illegal payments, and exploiting desperate passengers seeking to board flights.
• Poor Customer Service and Opaque Complaint Systems: Airline customer care structures are largely ineffective, unresponsive, and deliberately structured to frustrate complainants rather than resolve issues.
These recurring abuses amount to economic injustice and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Institutional Failures and Regulatory Weaknesses
HURIWA expresses deep disappointment at the glaring inefficiencies of existing internal complaint resolution mechanisms within the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Aviation. These bodies, which ought to serve as first-line protectors of passenger rights, have largely failed in their responsibilities.
Instead of providing swift and impartial redress, these mechanisms are plagued by bureaucracy, lack of transparency, and weak enforcement capacity. In many cases, they have inadvertently emboldened erring airlines by failing to hold them accountable.
This institutional inertia has created an environment where violations persist without consequence, leaving the FCCPC as the last credible line of defense for Nigerian consumers.
Beyond Judgment: The Imperative of Enforcement
While HURIWA celebrates this judicial victory, we caution that its true significance lies in robust and uncompromising enforcement. Without concrete action, even the most progressive rulings risk being reduced to mere symbolism.
Accordingly, HURIWA calls on the FCCPC to:
• Deploy its full statutory powers to investigate, sanction, and deter violations across the aviation sector without fear or favour.
• Impose stringent penalties, including heavy fines, compensation orders, and operational sanctions against defaulting airlines.
• Establish a fast-track aviation consumer redress mechanism that guarantees resolution of complaints within clearly defined timelines.
• Institutionalize airport-based enforcement units to monitor airline conduct in real time and dismantle networks of touts and racketeers.
• Mandate transparent refund systems, including automatic reimbursement protocols for cancelled flights.
• Publish periodic compliance and enforcement reports to promote accountability and inform the public.
HURIWA further urges the National Assembly to strengthen legislative oversight and consider amendments that will introduce stiffer punitive measures for consumer rights violations in critical sectors such as aviation.
A Call to End Impunity
This judgment has opened a new chapter in the protection of Nigerian consumers. It must now be followed by decisive regulatory action that sends a clear message: the era of exploitation, impunity, and disregard for passengers’ rights is over.
Nigerians deserve a functional aviation system anchored on fairness, transparency, and respect for human dignity. HURIWA remains committed to advocating for these principles and will continue to monitor developments to ensure that justice is not only declared but fully delivered.

Signed:
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
Dated: 20th April 2026

General News

Kiloshele lauds NANS Leadership Under Babatunde For peaceful protest for release of Abducted Students, Teachers of Oyo State

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By David Owei
A forefront NAUS Presidential Aspirant, Comr. David Aladesanmi popularly referred as Mr. Kiloshele, has lauded the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), *Akinteye Babatunde Afeez GCNS*, for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students.

He particularly commended the *NANS President* for peacefully mobilizing and coordinating efforts towards the abducted students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area. According to Mr. Kiloshele, the mature and responsible approach adopted by the student body under Akinteye’s leadership demonstrates the power of unity, dialogue, and constructive engagement in addressing national challenges.

Mr. Kiloshele further praised NANS for its consistent advocacy for student safety and security across educational institutions nationwide. He emphasized the need for all stakeholders, including government agencies and security operatives, to strengthen security measures in schools to safeguard students, teachers, and learning environments.

He called for sustained collaboration between student leaders, educational authorities, and security agencies to ensure that schools remain safe havens for learning and development, while applauding NANS, NAUS & sister bodies for standing firmly in defense of Nigerian students.

“Leadership is best measured by service, courage, and results. He conclusively, called upon media agencies to give this movement a worldwide publication as days is given to return our students, teachers back to thier schools and make Nigeria safe & safer for our education.

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Nigeria’s milk self-sufficiency will be won at states, LGs, not in Abuja -Expert

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Prof. Demo Kalla

By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

Nigeria’s journey to dairy self-sufficiency must shift from federal policy documents to deliberate action by states and local governments, a member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, and Acting Director of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence on Dairy Research and Development, ATBU Bauchi, Prof. Demo Kalla has said.

Kalla spoke during a panel session on “Mainstreaming Dairy Development Policy at the Sub-national Level for Self-sufficiency: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward” as part of activities to mark the 2026 World Milk Day.

The session was moderated by a Radio Nigeria presenter Rita Ene Okwanihe while other panelists included Mr Snorri Sigurdsson, Head of Raw Milk Production, Arla Foods Nigeria; Dr Ishaq Bello, Special Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development; Mr Brighton Ochieng, Chief Technical Officer, Promasidor Nigeria; and Hon. Adamu Mammagi Abdullahi, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Niger State.

Setting the context, Kalla said mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level means making dairy a deliberate part of state and local government planning, budgeting, investment promotion and rural economic strategy.

“In practical terms, it means moving dairy development from being viewed as a federal livestock initiative to becoming a priority economic sector owned and driven by states and local governments,” he stated.

He described it as “the missing link between Nigeria’s enormous livestock potential and the realization of dairy self-sufficiency.”

“Given that milk is produced in communities, not in policy documents, the success of Nigeria’s dairy transformation agenda will ultimately depend on actions taken at the state and local levels,” Kalla added.

He urged states and local government areas to domesticate the National Dairy Policy and create frameworks to attract investors, while promoting milk as a “super food for nutritional security.”

On the role of academia, Kalla said universities, research institutions and extension services are “the backbone of sustainable dairy development” because they generate knowledge, adapt technologies and build human capacity.

“Our mandate is to solve immediate local problems at the sub-national level. They must become active partners in the dairy transformation agenda by supporting state governments, dairy cooperatives, processors, and producers with evidence-based solutions,” he said.

He listed three immediate priorities: demand-driven research, technology transfer through demonstration farms and digital platforms, and capacity building and skills development.

“The dairy industry we desire will not emerge from investments in infrastructure alone. It will be built on knowledge, innovation, skills, and partnerships,” Kalla stressed.

Announcing a practical step, the expert said the Dairy Research and Development Centre, DRDC, stands ready to serve as a national platform for dairy science research, capacity building, innovation and knowledge sharing.

He called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s path to milk self-sufficiency, improved nutrition and rural prosperity.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said dairy development is a strategic economic enterprise that can create jobs, improve nutrition and reduce Nigeria’s import dependence.

Jega, who is also Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, said
this year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation,” stressing that it recognizes the pivotal role women play in milk production, processing, marketing and value addition across Nigeria.

He noted that the United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, IYWF 2026, underscoring women’s contributions to food security and economic growth.

“For Nigeria’s dairy sector, it reinforces the imperative of empowering women dairy farmers through improved access to productive assets, finance, technology, skills development, markets, and leadership opportunities,” he said.

The presidential adviser added that under President Bola Tinubu, the ongoing livestock reforms have placed dairy development at the heart of efforts to transform the livestock economy.

According to him, promoting fresh milk consumption is both a public health and economic imperative, saying “every litre of locally produced and consumed milk strengthens domestic value chains, creates opportunities for farmers and processors, improves household incomes, and contributes to national food and nutrition security.”

He said PLRIC remains committed to sustainable dairy development through policy reforms, investment promotion, breed improvement, pasture development, One Health, infrastructure expansion and stronger public-private partnerships.

Jega called on state governments, development partners, financial institutions, processors and investors to collaborate in mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level.

He concluded that a competitive dairy subsector will create wealth, employment and deliver nutritious fresh milk for a healthier and prosperous Nigeria.

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Tinubu commissions Jahi CNG Station as Rolling Energy leads clean fuel drive

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Olugbenga Salami

President Bola Tinubu has commissioned a state-of-the-art Compressed Natural Gas Daughter Booster Station in Jahi, Abuja, in a fresh push to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on costly petroleum products and unlock the value of its gas reserves.

Tinubu, who was by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the facility as a centrepiece of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the agenda places domestic gas utilisation at the heart of Nigeria’s industrial and economic future.

Nigeria holds about 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves. Yet for decades, much of the resource has been exported while Nigerians grapple with expensive and polluting fossil fuels.

The Tinubu administration is now moving to reverse that trend. The Jahi commissioning is one of four gas infrastructure projects unveiled simultaneously nationwide.

Similar facilities were launched by Ibile Oil and Gas and Portland Energy in Lagos and Owerri respectively.

“This facility marks another important milestone in our collective drive to deepen gas utilisation, expand access to cleaner energy solutions, and strengthen Nigeria’s gas value chain,” Ekpo declared at the event.

At the forefront of the transformation is Rolling Energy Limited, the private firm behind the Jahi station which developed the project in partnership with the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, MDGIF.

Chairman of Rolling Energy, Mubarak Umar Dambata, said the company’s footprint extends beyond Abuja.

He disclosed that Rolling Energy is rolling out CNG mother stations, daughter stations and Liquefied Natural Gas facilities in Kaduna, Kano and Borno states.

The firm has also partnered with the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles to convert over 8,000 vehicles to gas-powered systems.

The initiative is designed to translate policy into direct savings for commuters, tricycle operators and businesses.

The Jahi facility has a sales capacity of 1,000 Standard Cubic Metres, SCM, per hour.

It features two CNG tube skids with a combined storage capacity of 17,000 SCM.

The station also houses a Mass Conversion Centre that can convert up to 20 vehicles and 25 tricycles daily.

Since commercial operations began, it has been serving 350–400 vehicles per day.

Projected capacity is to serve more than 1,000 CNG vehicles and 100 trucks daily across the FCT and surrounding regions.

Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles, Ismahil Ahmed, said the removal of fuel subsidies created urgency for alternative energy.

“CNG offers a cleaner and more economically viable option,” Ahmed argued. He urged investors to move quickly into a market where demand for gas infrastructure is rising.

Presidential Adviser Sunday Dare said the administration has commissioned 25 projects nationwide to mark its third anniversary, with clean energy and gas infrastructure featuring prominently.

With regulatory backing from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and financial support from MDGIF, officials say the foundation for a CNG-powered Nigeria is now in place.

For truck drivers, tricycle operators and factory owners, the promise is lower costs, cleaner air and greater energy reliability.

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