Regulator suspends tough enforcement move over unpaid charges amid fears of flight disruptions and industry backlash…
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended its controversial “no pay, no service” directive earlier issued to domestic airlines over outstanding financial remittances.
The move comes after concerns emerged across the aviation industry that the policy could disrupt airline operations and affect passengers nationwide.
An internal memo dated May 22, 2026, revealed that the aviation regulator had initially instructed all NCAA directorates to deny services to defaulting airlines unless they obtained financial clearance from the agency’s Directorate of Finance and Accounts.
At the centre of the dispute are the mandatory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge collected by airlines on behalf of the NCAA.
The charges serve as a major source of funding for the authority’s operations, including aviation safety oversight, staff training, regulatory enforcement, and compliance monitoring across the sector.
Under the earlier directive, airlines that failed to remit the statutory charges risked losing access to critical regulatory support services, a development that immediately triggered fears of operational delays and wider implications for Nigeria’s already pressured aviation industry.
Speaking on the issue, NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo acknowledged the difficult economic conditions confronting airline operators but insisted that the agency could not ignore the growing remittance problem.
According to him, failure by airlines to remit the charges as required could weaken the authority’s ability to maintain effective safety oversight and sustain international aviation standards.
“The DGCA has directed that no directorate should render any service to the above airline without financial clearance from the director of finance and accounts,” the memo stated.
Although the NCAA has now suspended the directive, the development has once again exposed the deep financial strain within Nigeria’s aviation sector, where airlines continue to battle rising operational costs, foreign exchange pressures, and shrinking profit margins.
Industry stakeholders are expected to closely monitor further discussions between the regulator and airline operators as both sides seek a solution that avoids disruptions while ensuring the agency receives its statutory revenues.
The temporary suspension may offer immediate relief to airlines, but concerns remain over the long-term financial health of the aviation sector and the growing tension between regulators and operators.
