NCAA cracks down on 11 airlines over outstanding debts

By Dickson Omobola

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has instructed all of its directorates to suspend services to eleven domestic airlines until they clear outstanding debts.

In a memo dated 22 May 2026, obtained by Vanguard, Director of Finance and Accounts Olufemi Odukoya listed the affected carriers as 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,” read: “The Director‑General of the NCAA, Capt Chris Najomo, has directed that no directorate should render any service to the affected airlines without financial clearance from the Directorate of Finance and Accounts.”

Aviation consultant Adeola Fadairo said the move was “not only justified, it is long overdue.” He added that the airlines’ failure to remit the 5 % Ticket Sales Charge (TSC)—a statutory levy collected from passengers and held in trust for the regulator—constitutes a serious breach of public trust. “Collecting these statutory charges and then withholding them to cover operational shortfalls or balance books is an abuse of public funds,” he explained. “No airline has the legal or moral authority to appropriate money earmarked for aviation safety oversight, consumer protection, regulatory efficiency, and sectoral sustainability. The argument that remitting these obligations could worsen the financial condition of airlines is untenable.”

The post “NCAA cracks down on 11 airlines over outstanding debts” first appeared on Vanguard News.