The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has sought the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in addressing fraud, financial crimes, and corruption threatening transparency and safety in the aviation industry.
Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, made the appeal on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, during a courtesy visit to EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Najomo stressed that fraudulent practices in the aviation sector undermine NCAA’s oversight functions and investor confidence, while also exposing the industry to financial and safety risks. According to him, high-value transactions—including aircraft purchases, leasing deals, foreign maintenance contracts, and procurement of safety infrastructure—are particularly vulnerable to fraud and money laundering.
He also raised concerns about the persistent non-remittance of the mandatory five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) by some airlines. Najomo explained that such non-compliance leads to revenue shortfalls that weaken NCAA’s capacity to fund safety oversight and regulatory efficiency.
“Non-remittance weakens NCAA’s ability to fund safety oversight and operational efficiency and may require EFCC’s intervention to investigate cases where deliberate withholding, diversion or misappropriation of these funds is suspected. Some operators deliberately under-report revenues, manipulate ticketing systems or divert funds, thereby sabotaging the NCAA’s ability to regulate effectively,” he stated.
The NCAA boss further highlighted the growing menace of illegal charter operations disguised as private flights, noting that these activities often involve unregulated financial flows. He called on the EFCC to deploy its financial intelligence tools to unmask such fraudulent practices. Najomo also proposed joint sensitization workshops, intelligence-sharing frameworks, and specialized training for NCAA staff in detecting financial red flags.
While commending EFCC’s role in safeguarding Nigeria’s financial system, Najomo emphasized that the NCAA cannot fully deliver on its mandate without stronger collaboration with the anti-graft agency.
Responding, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede welcomed the partnership, assuring that the Commission was fully committed to cleaning up the aviation sector.
“With the kind of work you do, when people see us beside you, they will take you seriously. Aviation is an area where we have seen money laundering, particularly through chartered services. That is why we have been reaching out to you, and we will continue to do so until we achieve the desired results,” Olukoyede said.
He urged NCAA to tighten its surveillance of the private wing of airports, which he described as a hub for illicit financial transactions. He further disclosed that EFCC will designate senior officers to collaborate with NCAA on drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering joint investigations, intelligence sharing, and compliance monitoring.
Olukoyede assured that the EFCC was ready to partner with NCAA on tackling non-remittance by airlines, illicit financial flows, and fraudulent ticketing systems—issues he noted are sometimes exploited by foreign operators.
Overall, the EFCC boss pledged full support to protect Nigeria’s aviation sector from fraud, financial crimes, and economic sabotage.
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