Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: consumer protection

  • Aviation Regulator Pushes Back as Airlines Blame Taxes for Rising Airfares

    Aviation Regulator Pushes Back as Airlines Blame Taxes for Rising Airfares

    2025-12-30 09:30:00

    Reporting by Punch indicates the NCAA challenged claims that multiple taxes are the main driver of high airfares, as public debate grew around new tax laws and ticket pricing.

    The row followed warnings by Air Peace chairman Allen Onyema that aviation costs could worsen and fares could rise sharply if tax burdens persist.

    Regulators and tax-reform officials argue the reforms are meant to simplify and reduce certain burdens, while operators insist the broader levy-and-charge ecosystem remains heavy.

    Vanguard quoted Onyema saying, “The Nigerian airlines are heavily overburdened by taxes, levies and all manner of charges.” P.M. News quoted Taiwo Oyedele saying, “Eliminating this burden is a major structural relief for the sector,” as he explained tax changes affecting aviation.

    Echotitbits take: This will turn into a data contest—operators will cite cashflow strain, regulators will cite reform details. Watch for NCAA’s consumer-protection actions and a clear aviation-specific implementation note on VAT/WHT and leasing-related taxes.

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/airfares-hike-ncaa-tackles-air-peace-boss-rejects-tax-claim/)

    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Air Peace Rejects Barbados Diversion Claims as Stranded Passenger Story Spreads

    Air Peace Rejects Barbados Diversion Claims as Stranded Passenger Story Spreads

    2025-12-30 14:00:00

    According to Punch, passengers alleged they bought Lagos–Kingston tickets but were diverted to Barbados and later detained and deported—claims the airline disputed, insisting rerouting was voluntary and refunds were offered where applicable.

    The story centres on documentation and transit-visa issues, route-change communication at check-in, and what happened after arrival when onward connections were missed.

    The incident has quickly become a diaspora-travel flashpoint, raising questions about disclosure standards, passenger rights and handling of irregular operations on complex itineraries.

    The Guardian reported passengers claimed diversion was announced without prior notice, adding an airline spokesperson promised to respond “soon.” FIJ quoted an affected passenger saying, “Despite holding a valid Jamaican visa, I was forced to travel to a country with which I had no prior connection…”

    Echotitbits take: This could become a benchmark consumer-protection case. Watch NCAA’s findings, whether refunds/rerouting commitments are documented, and tighter ticketing disclosures for ‘via’ itineraries across Nigerian carriers.

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/25-air-peace-passengers-stranded-in-barbados-airline-defends-self/?utm_medium=web&utm_source=auto-read-also)

    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • OPay disowns festive ‘cash giveaway’ rumor and urges users to stop sending money to strangers

    OPay disowns festive ‘cash giveaway’ rumor and urges users to stop sending money to strangers

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-27 06:00:00

    Reporting by Punch indicates fintech platform OPay issued a public warning against a viral claim suggesting it is distributing money to users during the festive season.

    The company cautioned users not to transfer money to strangers and not to share sensitive personal data such as BVN, PINs, or OTP codes, describing the circulating message as a scam vector.

    Fraud analysts say the season’s spike in “giveaway” narratives is a predictable social‑engineering tactic, and rapid public debunking can reduce victims’ losses.

    Echotitbits take:
    This is a reminder that the weakest link is often human behaviour, not the app. Watch for more coordinated anti‑fraud messaging from banks/fintechs, and push for faster takedowns of scam accounts on social platforms.

    Source: The Punch — December 26, 2025 (https://punchng.com/opay-debunks-viral-cash-giveaway-claim-warns-users-of-scammers/)
    The Punch December 26, 2025

  • NAFDAC Uncovers Alleged “Revalidation” Factory for Expired Drugs in Lagos

    NAFDAC Uncovers Alleged “Revalidation” Factory for Expired Drugs in Lagos

    Photo Credit: Vanguard
    2025-12-25 10:30:00

    In a raid report carried by Vanguard, NAFDAC and security agencies uncovered a large-scale operation in Ojo, Lagos allegedly involved in selling and “revalidating” fake, banned and expired pharmaceutical products, with arrests made on site.

    Investigators said some products had expiry dates wiped and relabelled—raising fears about treatment failures, drug resistance, and preventable deaths linked to adulterated medicines.

    Vanguard quoted a NAFDAC official in stark terms: “What we have found here is that there are people who are worse than Boko Haram,” linking the operation to deliberate harm.

    The same report also highlighted specific examples, including: “This Diazepam injection expired in 2024, yet it was being prepared for sale,” as authorities described how chemicals were allegedly used to erase and reprint expiry labels.

    Echotitbits take: Fake drugs are no longer just a “health” story—they’re a national security and economic story, because they erode trust in the medical system and can destabilise public health outcomes. Watch for follow-up prosecutions (not just raids), and whether regulators expand traceability, tamper-proof labelling, and market surveillance in major drug hubs.

    Source: Vanguard — December 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/nafdac-uncovers-fake-expired-drug-factory-in-lagos-warns-of-national-security-threat/)

    Vanguard 2025-12-25

  • Passenger Wins: NCAA Says Airlines Paid Back Over N1bn in Refunds

    Passenger Wins: NCAA Says Airlines Paid Back Over N1bn in Refunds

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-25 09:35:00

    In an interview carried by The Punch, the NCAA says it has pushed airlines to refund passengers more consistently, disclosing over N1 billion paid back as consumer protection enforcement tightened. The regulator framed the outcome as proof that complaint systems and airline accountability are improving.

    The refunds reportedly covered delays, cancellations, and service failures where passengers were entitled to compensation under applicable rules, with the NCAA urging travelers to document complaints and use official channels rather than social-media outrage alone.

    For airlines, the development signals rising enforcement costs for poor reliability, potentially encouraging better schedule discipline, passenger communication, and quicker re-accommodation processes during disruptions.

    In additional reporting, The Guardian quoted the NCAA saying it recorded the “highest volume of refunds in the agency’s history,” while Daily Trust also reported the same outcome, stating domestic airlines “refunded over N1 billion to passengers” within the stated period.

    Echotitbits take: This is a rare win for Nigerian consumers—but sustainability matters. Watch whether NCAA publishes clearer dashboards (refund timelines, penalties, repeat offenders) and whether airlines respond by improving operational reliability rather than just paying refunds after complaints pile up.

    Source: The Punch — December 25, 2025 (https://punchng.com/airlines-refund-over-n1bn-as-ncaa-enforces-compliance/)

    The Punch 2025-12-25

  • Dangote Refinery Urges Nigerians to Reject Petrol Prices Above ₦739/Litre

    Dangote Refinery Urges Nigerians to Reject Petrol Prices Above ₦739/Litre

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-23 09:00:00

    In a consumer advisory cited by The Punch, Dangote Petroleum Refinery is urging Nigerians to stop buying petrol above ₦739 per litre, arguing that locally refined PMS should reach end-users at a lower price through its retail channels.

    The refinery says the goal is to prevent “middlemen pricing” from swallowing announced reductions, especially in high-demand corridors where price spikes often persist even after depot adjustments.

    It also introduced a reporting mechanism aimed at naming and shaming stations that sell above the advised ceiling, presenting the effort as consumer protection and market discipline.

    If the call gains traction, it could intensify downstream competition—pushing marketers to either match the price band or clearly justify premiums linked to logistics and location.

    Validation: Vanguard quoted the refinery saying, “We encourage Nigerians to avoid buying PMS… at ₦739 per litre… Report any MRS station selling above ₦739.” Legit.ng similarly quoted: “We encourage Nigerians to avoid buying PMS at inflated prices when locally refined fuel is available at N739 per litre.”

    Echotitbits take: This is a stress test of Nigeria’s retail transparency. Watch whether enforcement is consumer-led (hotlines + publicity) or regulator-led (monitoring + penalties), and whether rural/remote pricing remains a loophole.

    Source: The Punch — December 23, 2025 (https://punchng.com/stop-buying-petrol-above-n739-litre-dangote-tells-nigerians/)
    The Punch 2025-12-23

  • Yuletide travel fares: FCCPC warns transport operators against unjustified hikes

    Yuletide travel fares: FCCPC warns transport operators against unjustified hikes

    Photo credit: The Nation

    2025-12-22 10:15:00

    According to The Nation, the FCCPC is warning inter-city transport operators against unjustified festive-season fare spikes and consumer exploitation.

    The warning signals a more assertive consumer-protection posture in a period when demand surges and informal pricing practices can become normalised—especially for travellers with limited alternatives.

    But enforcement is the hard part: fare pricing is fragmented across parks, unions, and route operators, so deterrence often depends on visible sanctions and rapid complaint resolution.

    The Guardian also described the warning as a check on “arbitrary fare hikes,” while Nairametrics carried similar caution aimed at inter-city operators.

    Echotitbits take: If FCCPC wants this to land, it must publish complaint hotlines, name-and-shame repeat offenders, and coordinate with state transport ministries and park leadership. Watch for whether any operator is actually sanctioned this week.

    Source: The Nation — Dec 22, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/yuletide-fccpc-warns-transport-operators-against-arbitrary-fare-hikes/)

  • FG pauses sachet-alcohol enforcement after political pushback

    FG pauses sachet-alcohol enforcement after political pushback

    Photo Credit: Punch / File
    2025-12-19 09:00:00

    Punch Newspapers reports that the Federal Government has directed a temporary pause on enforcement tied to the planned clampdown on sachet alcohol, pending a policy review.

    The suspension follows concerns around implementation timing, stakeholder impact and the need to align public-health objectives with market realities in the informal retail chain.

    Verification: Premium Times reports the OSGF intervened and suspended the proposed ban, while earlier Premium Times reporting notes NAFDAC had signalled full enforcement by December 2025.

    Quotes: Premium Times: “The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has intervened…” Premium Times (earlier): “enforce a total ban… by December 2025.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s policy risk often shows up as hard announcements followed by soft landings. Watch for a clear phased roadmap (compliance + consumer protection) versus an indefinite pause that deepens uncertainty.

    Source: The Punch — 2025-12-19 — https://punchng.com/fg-suspends-sachet-alcohol-ban-pending-review/

    The Punch 2025-12-19

  • Tinubu taps Muliyat Oseni to lead NERC as power-sector regulation resets

    Tinubu taps Muliyat Oseni to lead NERC as power-sector regulation resets

    Photo Credit: Punch / State House
    2025-12-19 10:00:00

    In a report by The Punch, President Tinubu has appointed Dr. Muliyat Omolola Oseni as chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    The change matters because NERC shapes tariffs, market rules, consumer protection and investor confidence—areas under pressure from service shortfalls and reform disputes.

    Verification: Premium Times and Vanguard also reported the appointment and the leadership change at the regulator.

    Quotes: Premium Times: “President Tinubu appoints new NERC chairman…” Vanguard: “Tinubu appoints Dr. Muliyat Oseni as NERC Chairman…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Appointments don’t fix electricity—execution does. Watch the first 90 days: metering acceleration, estimated billing controls, Disco performance enforcement, and transparent dispute resolution across the value chain.

    Source: The Punch — 2025-12-19 — https://punchng.com/tinubu-appoints-oseni-nerc-chairman/

    The Punch 2025-12-19

  • NDIC and NIBSS Team Up to Speed Up Depositor Payments After Bank Failures

    NDIC and NIBSS Team Up to Speed Up Depositor Payments After Bank Failures

    2025-12-18 00:00:00

    Punch reports that the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) have entered a partnership aimed at improving how depositors of failed banks are identified and paid.

    The report says the collaboration targets faster verification and cleaner payment processes, reducing delays that often frustrate depositors after bank liquidations.

    Officials are positioning the move as part of wider financial-system stability efforts, especially as digital identity and payment rails deepen across Nigeria.

    The Guardian reported that the NDIC–NIBSS collaboration is designed to make liquidation payouts more efficient and transparent. (Guardian Nigeria)

    NAN also reported the partnership and said it would strengthen processes for paying insured depositors of failed institutions. (NAN)

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Faster payouts improve trust in the banking system and reduce panic during stress events. Watch whether NDIC publishes clearer payout timelines, integrates BVN/NIN-linked verification more deeply, and expands outreach so rural depositors can access claims easily.

    Source: Punch — December 18, 2025 (https://punchng.com/ndic-nibss-to-strengthen-failed-banks-depositor-payouts/)

    Photo credit: Daily Post Nigeria