The Director-General, Chris Ona Najomo, the NCAA
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced the temporary suspension of its planned enforcement of the “No Pay, No Service” directive against airlines with outstanding statutory remittances, in a move the regulator says is aimed at maintaining operational stability across Nigeria’s aviation sector amid escalating economic pressures.
The decision follows what the Authority described as extensive consultations with key industry stakeholders and a careful reassessment of current operating realities, particularly the persistent rise in aviation turbine fuel (Jet A1) costs, which has continued to strain airline finances and disrupt planning across the sector.
In a statement issued on 24 May 2026 and signed by the Director-General, Chris Ona Najomo, the NCAA clarified that the suspension is strictly temporary and should not be interpreted as a cancellation, waiver, or forgiveness of outstanding statutory obligations owed by airlines.
According to the regulator, the authority to grant waivers or cancel statutory debts does not rest with the NCAA, stressing that all obligations remain valid and enforceable under existing aviation laws and regulations.
The NCAA further referenced ongoing government interventions in the aviation industry, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously approved a 30 per cent reduction on outstanding fees owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies, including the NCAA. The measure, it said, forms part of broader fiscal relief efforts designed to cushion the impact of high jet fuel prices, improve liquidity in the sector, and support operational continuity for domestic carriers.
Despite the temporary suspension of enforcement, the Authority emphasized that all affected airlines remain fully responsible for settling their statutory debts. It added that it will continue structured, airline-by-airline engagements aimed at recovering outstanding remittances in a manner that does not destabilize ongoing operations.
Clarification on Statutory Charges
The NCAA also used the opportunity to clarify the nature of the 5 per cent Ticket and Cargo Sales Charge, describing it as a statutory obligation embedded in Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Act.
According to the Authority, the charge is collected by airlines at the point of ticket and cargo sales on behalf of the aviation ecosystem and is subsequently remitted for distribution among regulatory and service-providing agencies within the sector.
It stressed that the levy does not constitute airline operating revenue or profit, but rather a pass-through statutory collection designed to sustain aviation safety, regulation, and infrastructure support services.
The regulator further explained that the NCAA operates on a cost-recovery basis and does not receive direct budgetary funding from the Federal Government for its day-to-day regulatory operations. As such, statutory remittances remain critical to ensuring effective oversight, safety regulation, and compliance monitoring across Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Industry Balance and Regulatory Approach
While acknowledging the financial pressures currently facing airlines, the NCAA described its decision as a “calibrated and pragmatic” approach intended to strike a balance between strict regulatory enforcement and the need to avoid disruption in air transport services.
The Authority reiterated that while it remains committed to sustaining industry stability, it will also continue to uphold the principle that all collected statutory charges must be remitted for their intended purposes in line with existing laws.
It assured stakeholders that engagement with operators will remain ongoing, with the goal of ensuring full compliance while preserving the financial and operational stability of the aviation sector.
The NCAA has temporarily suspended enforcement of its “No Pay, No Service” directive against airlines with outstanding statutory remittances, citing rising operational costs and industry stability concerns. The regulator, however, insists that all debts remain payable and statutory obligations must still be fully remitted.
NCAA suspends “No Pay, No Service” enforcement temporarily, citing airline cost pressures, but insists statutory aviation debts remain payable and fully enforceable under Nigerian law.
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