Funding Review Sparks Fresh Debate Over Nigeria’s Aviation Safety
By FIDELUS ZWANSON
Safety Oversight Takes Centre Stage
THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that any further reduction in its statutory funding could weaken the country’s aviation safety oversight and affect its ability to effectively regulate the industry.
Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, raised the concern during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation at the National Assembly in Abuja. The hearing focused on proposals to review the allocation formula for the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC), two key revenue streams within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Najomo stressed that while the authority supports adequate funding for all aviation agencies, any review of the current sharing formula must take into account the NCAA’s unique statutory responsibilities as the country’s aviation safety regulator.
Ticket Sales Charge Remains Critical
According to the NCAA, the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge contributes about 85 per cent of the agency’s total revenue, making it the financial backbone of its regulatory activities.
Najomo explained that unlike the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which earns significant income through commercial air navigation charges paid directly by airlines, the NCAA relies heavily on the statutory levy to fund inspections, certification, surveillance and other regulatory responsibilities.
He noted that international aviation guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommend that air navigation services should primarily be financed by aircraft operators rather than through passenger-based charges.
Regulator Calls for Sustainable Funding
The NCAA chief warned lawmakers that reducing the agency’s revenue without creating an alternative funding source could compromise its ability to maintain effective safety oversight across Nigeria’s civil aviation industry.
He argued that preserving aviation safety requires a financially independent regulator capable of carrying out its statutory functions without operational constraints.
Rather than diverting the NCAA’s existing revenue, he advised that additional funding needs for other aviation agencies should be addressed through improved revenue collection, stronger corporate governance and targeted government intervention for strategic infrastructure projects where necessary.
Airlines Seek Alternative Funding Formula
The funding debate has attracted strong reactions from airline operators, who insist that the current percentage-based Ticket Sales Charge places additional financial pressure on domestic carriers already facing rising operational costs.
Representing the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), former NAMA Managing Director Roland Iyayi urged lawmakers to abolish the existing five per cent charge and replace it with a flat-rate levy similar to the Passenger Service Charge collected by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The airline operators also proposed increasing NAMA’s share of aviation revenue while creating a dedicated Aviation Development Fund to finance infrastructure and future sectoral expansion.
Experts Back NCAA’s Position
Several respected aviation professionals supported the NCAA’s position during the hearing.
Former NCAA Director-General Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ICAO Mahmud Ben-Tukur, former ICAO Assembly President Bernard Aliu and former Director-General of Civil Aviation Harold Demuren all argued that aviation regulators should not be funded in the same manner as service providers.
They maintained that the NCAA carries the sole responsibility for aviation safety oversight and must remain financially independent to sustain Nigeria’s compliance with global aviation standards.
The hearing was attended by members of the National Assembly’s aviation committees, chief executives of aviation agencies, airline operators and other industry stakeholders, with lawmakers expected to consider the various submissions before making recommendations on the proposed funding review.
