The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed all its directorates to suspend services to 11 domestic airlines over unpaid statutory charges, placing the operators on its updated “No-Pay-No-Service” list.
The directive was contained in an internal memo dated May 22, 2026, obtained on Sunday, which instructed all departments to withhold regulatory and administrative services from the affected airlines until outstanding debts are cleared or repayment arrangements are concluded.
At the centre of the dispute are the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge—funds collected by airlines on behalf of the NCAA to support safety oversight, personnel training and economic regulation in the aviation sector.
The memo further instructed all directorates to suspend services pending financial clearance from the Directorate of Finance and Accounts.
Signed by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, the circular was distributed to regional offices and copied to the Director-General of Civil Aviation and other senior officials.
The affected airlines include 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.
The memo stated: “The DGCA has directed that no directorate should render any service to the above airlines without financial clearance from the Director of Finance and Accounts.”
Under the directive, the airlines risk immediate disruptions in regulatory support, raising concerns within the industry over possible operational delays and broader implications for air travel in Nigeria.
