The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has placed 11 local airlines on its updated “No-Pay-No-Service” list over outstanding statutory payments owed to the regulator.
The move is expected to limit the affected carriers’ access to key regulatory and administrative services until they settle their debts or reach payment agreements with the authority.
According to an internal memo dated May 22, 2026, and obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the action centres on unpaid five per cent Ticket Sales Charges and Cargo Sales Charges collected by airlines on behalf of the NCAA.
The charges are used to fund aviation safety oversight, personnel training, and economic regulation within the industry.
The memo directed all NCAA directorates to suspend services to the indebted airlines pending financial clearance from the Directorate of Finance and Accounts.
Signed by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, the directive was circulated to regional offices and copied to the Director-General of Civil Aviation and other senior officials.
Under the order, airlines may face disruptions in regulatory support, raising fears of possible operational delays and broader implications for the aviation sector.
Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, said the regulator understands the economic difficulties confronting airlines but cannot ignore the impact of unpaid remittances on its operations.
He warned that delays in remitting statutory charges could affect the agency’s capacity to maintain effective safety oversight, risk-based surveillance, and compliance with global aviation standards.
Also see: FG Targets 2,322 CNG Stations Nationwide by 2027
The airlines affected include Air Peace, Ibom Air, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NG Eagle, Max Air, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air, and ValueJet.
Reacting to the development, Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, George Uriesi, said the crisis facing airlines is largely driven by rising operational costs rather than poor financial management.
He explained that the sharp increase in aviation fuel prices severely disrupted airlines’ financial structures, making it difficult for operators to balance operational expenses with statutory obligations.
According to him, airlines were unable to raise ticket fares at the same pace as soaring fuel and maintenance costs, leaving most operators struggling to stay afloat.
Also speaking, former Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Samuel Caulcrick, questioned the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector.
He said the industry’s challenges go beyond the controversial five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, citing inflation, unstable foreign exchange rates, weak passenger traffic, and multiple regulatory costs as major threats to airline survival.
Caulcrick added that domestic operators remain heavily exposed to dollar-denominated expenses such as aircraft leasing, maintenance, and spare parts without reliable access to foreign exchange support.
