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The short answer
Under Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2023, a cancelled domestic flight entitles you to a refund or re-routing; cash tickets should be refunded immediately and other payments within 14 days, and international refunds within 14 days through the original payment channel. Delays bring refreshments from two hours, reimbursement or re-routing from three hours, and for domestic delays over six hours compensation of at least 25% of the fare.
Flight disruptions are common on Nigerian routes, and many passengers accept a voucher or a vague promise of a refund "in four to six weeks". The rules say more than that. Part 19 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023, made under the Civil Aviation Act 2022 and enforced by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), sets out what airlines owe you. The figures below are taken from a guide by the law firm Templars dated 2 October 2025, which cites the section numbers; check the current regulation on the NCAA website if your case turns on the detail. This is information, not legal advice.
If your flight is cancelled
A cancellation triggers a choice between a refund and re-routing to your destination. For domestic flights, Templars summarises section 19.9.1.1 as follows:
- Paid in cash: reimbursement immediately.
- Paid any other way (card, transfer, travel agent): within 14 days of the disruption.
- International flights: refund within 14 days, through the original payment channel.
The guide notes that a domestic practice of refunding in 14 to 28 working days breaches the regulation. If the airline gave you enough advance notice before departure, it may not owe extra compensation, but the refund-or-re-route duty still stands.
If your flight is delayed
| Delay (domestic) | What the airline should provide | Section cited |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | Refreshments | Part 19, care provisions |
| 3 hours | Reimbursement or re-routing, if you choose | 19.9.1.1(a)–(b) |
| Overnight | Accommodation | 19.10.1.1(c)–(d) |
| Over 6 hours | Compensation of at least 25% of the fare | 19.8.1.1(a) |
Care also covers water, soft drinks and snacks, and extra attention for passengers with reduced mobility, unaccompanied minors and families (sections 19.10 to 19.12). For international flights, Part 19 has similar protections and the Montreal Convention 1999 applies; under the Convention you generally have to show actual loss caused by the delay.
When the airline does not have to pay compensation
Section 19.1.2.1 relieves airlines of monetary compensation in extraordinary circumstances (events outside their control, such as some weather or security situations). Templars points out that the duties of care still apply in those cases: information, meals, accommodation and rebooking. Airlines sometimes label any disruption "operational"; ask in writing what the cause was, so you can judge whether the exemption fits.
How to claim, step by step
- At the airport, ask the airline desk for written confirmation of the cancellation or delay and its cause. Photograph the departure board.
- Keep your ticket, boarding pass, payment receipt and any receipts for food or transport you paid for yourself.
- Submit a written refund or compensation request to the airline, quoting Part 19 and the sections above, and stating the amount and how you want to be paid. Keep the reference number.
- Count the days. If 14 days pass without a refund, escalate to the NCAA, which Templars notes is the route where refunds are not processed in time.
- You can also complain to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). Templars cites section 130(2)(b) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which requires prompt and full refunds for bookings not fulfilled. The FCCPC's complaint portal is at complaints.fccpc.gov.ng.
Denied boarding and downgrades
Part 19 also covers being bumped from an overbooked flight and being moved to a lower class. Templars summarises section 19.5.1.4 as entitling a passenger denied boarding to reimbursement, compensation, re-routing or other assistance, without giving a fixed amount, and section 19.11.1.1(a) as entitling a downgraded passenger to a refund of the fare difference. Ask for the denial or downgrade to be noted in writing at the desk.
Vouchers, agents and card payments
- Vouchers: where the rule gives you a refund, a voucher is an offer you can decline. Accept one only if you will use it.
- Travel agents: if you booked through an agent, the refund often comes back through the agent. Ask the airline to confirm when it paid the agent, so you know who is holding your money.
- Card payments: the international rule says refunds go back through the original channel. If you paid by card and the airline refuses, your bank may be able to raise a dispute; see how to raise a chargeback on a Nigerian debit card.
- Paying from abroad: if you paid in a foreign currency, the refund may come back in that currency; see why foreign transfers are delayed or returned.
Where Pryme fits
If you are claiming a refund, keep a clean record of what you paid. Pryme customers can generate a verifiable receipt through VerifyDoc.ai that an airline or regulator can check is genuine and unaltered (receipts). For travel paid in other currencies, a Pryme account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR, so a refund can land in the currency you paid in (multicurrency).
Questions people ask
How long does an airline have to refund a cancelled flight in Nigeria?
Under Part 19 of the Nig.CARs 2023, as summarised by Templars, cash tickets on domestic flights should be refunded immediately and other payments within 14 days. International refunds are due within 14 days through the original payment channel.
Am I entitled to compensation for a flight delay in Nigeria?
For domestic delays over six hours, the regulation provides compensation of at least 25% of the fare, unless extraordinary circumstances apply. Shorter delays bring refreshments, and from three hours a refund or re-routing.
Where do I report an airline to NCAA?
If a refund is not paid in time, escalate to the NCAA's consumer protection team through its official website and channels, keeping copies of your complaint to the airline. You can also complain to the FCCPC.
Can an airline give me a voucher instead of a refund?
Where Part 19 gives you a refund, a voucher is an alternative you can choose but are not obliged to accept.
Sources
- Templars: A Guide to Passenger Rights and Airline Obligations (2 Oct 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: homepage and complaint channels · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.