In July 2022, Emeka Obilor, a Lagos State resident, felt it was wise he plan for an important event he needed to attend in Enugu State with his entire family.

The event itself was scheduled to be held in August of that year.

As a result of the growing increase in the rate of kidnap cases being recorded back then in the southeastern part of the country, Obilor decided to book a Lagos to Enugu flight with Dana Air for himself, his wife and three children on July 19, 2022.

The flight booking cost him N224,170.

READ ALSO: After FIJ’s Story, Dana Air Refunds Customer’s N131,544 Held for 4 Months

A day after Obilor made the flight booking, however, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended Dana Air’s Air Transport Licence (ATL) and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) indefinitely.

Dana Air was suspended during the period because the NCAA believed it was no longer in a position to meet its financial obligations and to conduct safe flight operations.

“On July 29, 2022, Dana Air eventually sent me a text message to officially inform me of the flight cancellation,” Obilor told FIJ in an interview on Monday.

“The Airline then subsequently sent me a refund form to fill, and I filled and submitted it immediately. On August 3, Dana Air again sent me a message, stating that a refund process had started and this made me feel I would get my money within a few days.

“Unfortunately, I waited and waited for Dana Air to send my N224,170 to me, but nothing came from the airline. Days became months, and months turned into a year, but the airline still did not make any refund to me.

“I sent several emails and also made many phone calls to the airline, but all I always got as a response was, “Sir, we are working on it. Apologies”.

READ ALSO: 4 Months After Cancelling Lagos-Abuja Flight, Dana Air Yet to Refund Customer’s N131,544

“It has now been more than two years since the flight was cancelled and Dana Air still hasn’t given me back my N224,170. This is terrible!”

When FIJ sent a message to Dana Air’s WhatsApp customer care line for a reaction to Obilor’s complaint on Monday, one of the airline’s officials, who did not state his or her name, issued the following response on Tuesday morning:

“Please note that these (Obilor’s) refund details have been escalated to the relevant unit. Feedback will be provided as soon as possible.”

Obilor later told FIJ that he had been issued a similar response several times.