The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed its directorates to suspend services to 11 domestic airlines after placing them on its updated “No-Pay-No-Service” list over unpaid statutory charges owed to the regulator.
According to an internal memo dated May 22, 2026, the directive ordered all departments within the authority to stop providing regulatory and administrative services to the affected operators until outstanding debts are settled or repayment arrangements are concluded.
The charges at the centre of the dispute are the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge, which airlines collect on behalf of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority to fund safety oversight, personnel training, and economic regulation in the aviation sector.
The memo instructed all directorates to withhold services pending financial clearance from the Directorate of Finance and Accounts.
Signed by Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, the circular 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 account,” the memo stated.
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.
Industry operators say the directive could disrupt regulatory approvals and other critical services, raising concerns over potential operational delays across the aviation sector.
The development has also sparked broader debate within the industry over compliance with statutory remittances and the financial sustainability of domestic carriers.
