The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has directed all its directorates to stop providing services to 11 domestic airlines over unpaid financial obligations owed to the aviation regulator.
According to a memo dated May 22, 2026, and signed by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, the affected airlines include Air Peace Limited, Ibom Air Limited, Arik Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NGeagle Airline, Max Air Limited, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air, and ValueJet.
The memo titled “Updated List of Airlines on No Pay No Service” stated that the Director General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, instructed that no service should be rendered to any of the listed airlines without financial clearance from the Directorate of Finance and Accounts.
Reacting to the development, aviation consultant Adeola Fadairo described the decision as necessary and long overdue. He explained that the five percent Ticket Sales Charge collected by airlines belongs to passengers and should be remitted promptly to the NCAA as required by law.
According to him, withholding the statutory charges amounts to a serious abuse of public trust because the funds are meant to support aviation safety oversight, consumer protection, regulatory efficiency, and the overall sustainability of the aviation sector.
Fadairo also argued that airlines cannot justify retaining the money to cover operational challenges or financial difficulties, stressing that no airline has the legal authority to divert funds meant for regulatory purposes.
The NCAA’s latest action is expected to increase pressure on the affected airlines to settle their outstanding obligations before normal regulatory services can resume.
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