The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has directed its directorates to suspend services to 11 domestic airlines over unpaid statutory charges owed to the aviation regulator.
The affected operators have been placed on the NCAA’s updated “No-Pay-No-Service” list, a move that could affect access to regulatory and administrative services until the debts are cleared or repayment agreements are reached.
The directive was contained in an internal memo dated May 22, 2026, signed by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, and circulated across the authority’s regional offices and departments. It was also copied to the Director-General of Civil Aviation and other senior officials within the authority.
“The DGCA has directed that no directorate should render any service to the above airline without financial clearance from the director of finance and accounts,” the memo stated.
According to Sahara Reporters, airlines affected by the directive are Air Peace Limited, Ibom Air Limited, Arik Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NG Eagle, Max Air Limited, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air, and ValueJet.
At the centre of the dispute are the five percent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge, which airlines collect on behalf of the NCAA to fund safety oversight, personnel training, and economic regulation within the sector. The NCAA expects airlines to remit these funds regularly, but the 11 operators named in the memo have fallen behind on their obligations.
Domestic airlines collectively owe the regulator more than ₦10 billion, with some estimates placing total liabilities at between ₦19 billion and an additional $7.8 million in unremitted funds.
The directive cuts across key technical and regulatory units of the authority nationwide, with the circular distributed to departments including Air Transport Regulation, Airworthiness Standards, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Legal Services, regional managers, and accountants.
All directorates have been instructed to immediately suspend services to the affected airlines until outstanding debts are cleared or financial clearance is obtained.
The aviation sector may experience disruptions in services as a result of the No-Pay-No-Service order, with industry sources warning that the suspension could affect approvals, renewals, and other operational processes handled by the regulator processes that are critical to daily flight operations.
