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Airline operators reject NCAA debt claim
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Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has faulted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, over its earlier decision to withhold services from 11 domestic airlines pending the settlement of their outstanding financial obligations.
Director of Finance and Accounts of NCAA, Olufemi Odukoya, in a memo dated May 22, 2026, obtained by Vanguard, had listed the affected airlines as Air Peace Limited, Ibom Air Limited, Arik Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NGeagle Airline, Max Air Limited, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air and ValueJet.
While the NCAA has temporarily suspended the directive, AON, in a statement, disclosed that all services rendered by NCAA to domestic airline operators were fully paid for in advance on a cash-before-service basis.
AON, however, clarified that what the NCAA described as outstanding charges relates to the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, which is different from regulatory service fees.
They also urged Federal Government to amend the Civil Aviation Act to empower the NCAA to directly collect appropriate fees and charges from passengers, saying the measure should take effect from June 1, 2026.
The statement reads: “The AON wishes to make it clear that all cost recovery services rendered by the NCAA to domestic airline operators are paid for fully in advance on a cash-before-service basis.
“For clarity, the NCAA issues an invoice for every regulatory service it provides, whether for the validation of crew operating licences, aircraft inspections, documentation renewals, or any other service within its regulatory mandate. Operators are then required to settle all such invoices in advance, and compliance is strictly observed before the NCAA renders any regulatory service.
“In practice, no domestic airline in Nigeria receives NCAA regulatory services without first making the full payment of invoices issued to it by the NCAA. This long-standing policy and procedure remains firmly in place. Consequently, suggestions that domestic airline operators are indebted to the NCAA for regulatory services are factually inaccurate.
“What the NCAA refers to as ‘outstanding charges’ relates solely to the five percent (five per cent) Ticket Sales Charge, TSC, a Tax imposed by the NCAA on passengers for no services rendered to passengers and not in consonance with the dictates of international aviation. This is entirely different from regulatory service fees.
“The AON also notes that several member airlines maintain dedicated accounts, from which the NCAA draws down its monthly remittances, until the force majeure caused by the Iran -Israel/USA conflict, that had put a lot of financial pressures on airlines worldwide.
“Notwithstanding this arrangement, the AON had formally appealed to the federal government through the office of Honourable Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, to suspend the payment of all statutory charges temporarily, as an interim measure to assist airlines in managing their cash flows during the current period of severe financial stress caused by the increase in the cost of Jet Al.
“As an interim response, President Bola Tinubu graciously granted a 30 per cent concession, while waiting for the government decision on the other aspects of the AON intervention request. While the AON acknowledges and appreciates this gesture, we had appealed for a meeting with Mr. President to discuss further reliefs, a request that is yet to be granted.
“The AON reiterates its position that the NCAA is a regulatory body, not a revenue-generating agency. The NCAA does not fund any aspect of our businesses or render any direct service to passengers.
“Each and every service it provides to airline operators are fully paid for in advance before such is rendered. In view of the above, the AON calls on federal government to urgently amend the Civil Aviation Act to empower the NCAA to collect whatever appropriate fees and charges are due directly from passengers or whoever else, without routing such through the domestic airlines. We request this to take effect from June 1, 2026.
“This will relieve domestic airlines of the financial burden of acting as collection agents for the NCAA, since airlines currently bear banking transfer charges and other transaction costs in the process of transmitting funds to the NCAA.
“The five per cent Ticket Service Charge in question was introduced over 45 years ago under the Government of General Gowon by the then Federal Civil Aviation Authority, FCAA, and its continued relevance has not been reviewed ever since.
“The FCAA was at the time an arm of the Civil Aviation Department, CAD, housed in Marina under the Ministry of Transportation. As the CAD was not a ministry-level aviation unit, it had limited budgetary resources.
“The Gowon regime of the 1970s had built airports in all 12 States of the federation and these airports required maintenance and operational budgets that were not provided for in the sector’s budget hence the introduction of the five per cent TSC.
“Notably, Nigeria Airways, the only domestic airline operating at the time, did NOT pay the five per cent TSC. Only foreign Airline carriers were required to pay.
“Importantly and worthy of note is the fact that the FCAA has since over time evolved into the NCAA, NAA, and NIMET. The NAA in turn evolved into the present-day FAAN and NAMA.
“Meanwhile, the aviation industry was deregulated in 1982, allowing for indigenous entrepreneurs to compete in the market, resulting in the new entrant private airlines that have remained the mainstay of the industry and the backbone of the Nigerian economic renaissance.
“With the creation of each of these agencies, separate taxes, fees, charges, and levies were introduced for the Nigerian Airline operators to cover their respective services.
“Meanwhile, the five per cent TSC, which was originally a policy instrument was surreptitiously introduced into the legislation by the NCAA, despite the vehement opposition from the AON and other industry stakeholders.
“Domestic airlines, in addition to this five per cent TSC, still pay separately ànd directly for services provided by the various industry agencies, including the NCAA itself.
“It is important to note that the five per cent TSC is an ad valorem tax applied to an airline’s gross earnings, not profits. The global aviation industry operates at a profit margin of between 1.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent at best. International standard and best practice provides that aviation should be a cost-recovery sector of strategic importance. In Nigeria, however, the industry is being subjected to unsustainable financial pressures, in the guise of imposed taxes, fees, charges and levies.
“The AON uses this occasion to once again draw the attention of the Federal Government to the unsustainable burden of these multiple taxes, fees, charges and levies arbitrarily imposed on domestic airline operators. We make payments to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and several other service providers and statutory bodies.
“The financial impact of these taxes, fees, charges and levies is adverse, burdensome and excruciating, especially at this precarious period, when the entire world has been exposed to the exogenous shocks of the Iran – Israel / USA crisis.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested Prof. Bello Abubakar, personal physician to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged abuse of a court-approved medical visit.
The commission’s spokesperson, John Odey, announced this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mr Odey said Mr El-Rufai’s personal physician was arrested for allegedly making false statements in connection with a court-approved medical visit.
He said the visit was granted to Mr El-Rufai at the private wing of the National Hospital, Abuja, with the understanding that he was to receive medical attention.
”However, photos later posted online by a political associate, Isa Kudan, showed El-Rufai meeting with Prof. Abubakar and others at the same time.”
He said this indicated the medical visit was used for activities outside the scope approved by the court, which the ICPC described as an abuse of its goodwill and a violation of the court order.
He explained that the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8 for accelerated hearing of criminal charges pending against Mr El-Rufai, who is currently in the commission’s custody.
”However, on the first day of the hearing, the former governor did not appear before the court.
”The prosecution told the court that El-Rufai refused to be conveyed, insisting he wanted to see his personal doctor.
”The prosecution further stated that no prior request for medical consultation was made to the Commission. When asked by the ICPC medical doctor, El-Rufai reportedly said he had no immediate complaint,” he said.
He allegedly said his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his lawyers, requested that he see Mr Abubakar, his personal physician.
According to him, following arguments by counsel, the court adjourned proceedings to July 15.
”The adjournment was to hear an application for the trial judge’s recusal and to await the chief judge’s directive on a transfer petition.
”In spite of this, the ICPC facilitated the medical visit in compliance with court directives and its obligation to respect the rights and welfare of persons in custody.
“The hospital visit took place on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the private wing of the National Hospital, FCT. ICPC’s medical and security team conducted themselves professionally and respected the defendant’s privacy,” he said.
Mr Odey said at the family’s request, the ICPC officers remained outside the consultation room, while the attending oncologist was supposedly examining El-Rufai.
”The commission was later confronted with Facebook photos posted at 2:00 pm by Isa Ashiru Kudan, a political associate of El-Rufai, showing a meeting with the former governor.
”The pictures showed Prof. Abubakar, Isa Kudan and three others with El-Rufai at the same time he was supposed to be having a medical consultation.
”The images indicated the medical visit was used for activities outside the scope approved by the court and the Commission, describing it as a clear violation of the court order,” he said.
While noting that the commission had remained patient, professional and courteous in handling Mr El-Rufai and other suspects, Mr Odey warned that such courtesies had been abused and the commission will no longer tolerate it.
He added that Mr Abubakar had been taken into custody for making false statements and for further investigation.
He said the commission would bring the alleged disobedience to the attention of the court and reiterated its commitment to operating within the law.
(NAN)
The Federal Government has redirected more than 1,440 assets recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the education sector, in a move aimed at transforming proceeds of corruption into investments that enhance teaching and learning across the country.
The assets, comprising 501 double-decker bed frames, 939 mattresses and 12 wooden beds with mattresses, were formally handed over to the Federal Ministry of Education during a restitution ceremony in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the deployment of recovered assets to the education sector reflects President Bola Tinubu’s determination to ensure that resources reclaimed on behalf of Nigerians are channelled into projects that have a direct impact on citizens, especially children and young people.
Dr Alausa said education remains at the heart of the President’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy through sustained investment in human capital. He explained that redirecting assets recovered from corrupt practices to schools is part of a deliberate policy to convert the proceeds of crime into opportunities that enhance learning, improve educational outcomes and secure a brighter future for Nigerian students.
The Minister noted that education has emerged as one of the major beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s asset recovery programme. He recalled that President Tinubu had previously approved the conversion of a forfeited university facility into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, instead of disposing of the property through sale.
According to him, the institution has already enrolled more than 3,000 students in programmes covering applied sciences, engineering, nursing, health sciences and other strategic fields, thereby expanding access to quality education and equipping young Nigerians with skills required for national development.
Alausa added that the latest tranche of recovered assets would substantially improve student accommodation and welfare in colleges and other educational institutions nationwide.
He also hailed the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for enhancing public confidence in the Commission through professionalism, adherence to the rule of law and sustained efforts to tackle corruption, procurement fraud and cybercrime.
The transfer of the recovered assets was formalised through the signing of a Deed of Release by representatives of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Education, including the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abel Enitan.
The recovered assets will be deployed to educational institutions across the country to improve student accommodation and strengthen learning infrastructure.
Alausa assured Nigerians that the recovered assets would be deployed transparently and equitably to Unity Schools across the country where they would directly improve student welfare, strengthen learning infrastructure and support the Federal Government’s commitment to providing accessible, inclusive and quality education for every Nigerian child.
Earlier, the anti-graft Chairman, Olukoyede, said the assets were recovered during Operation Eagle Flush, one of the largest cybercrime operations undertaken by the Commission.
He explained that the operation, conducted towards the end of 2024, led to the arrest of about 792 suspects, including foreign nationals, who were investigated, prosecuted, convicted and repatriated after serving their prison terms.
According to him, the restitution was carried out in line with the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act and the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that recovered assets are transparently deployed for national development.
Olukoyede said children and young people are among the greatest victims of corruption and financial crimes, making it appropriate that they should also benefit from assets recovered from criminal activities.
The EFCC Chairman also highlighted previous interventions in the education sector, including the transfer of the forfeited university facility that now operates as the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and the deployment of recovered proceeds of crime to provide part of the seed funding for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
According to him, about 1.4 million students have already benefited from the education loan programme through tuition support and monthly upkeep allowances, easing financial burdens that often expose vulnerable young people to cybercrime and other financial offences.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed four senior police officers and imposed various disciplinary sanctions on 31 others over acts of misconduct, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening discipline and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force.
The decisions were taken at the commission’s plenary meeting held at its corporate headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement by the Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Mr Torty Njoku Kalu.
The commission said the four officers were dismissed after they were found guilty of gross misconduct, unprofessional conduct and acts unbecoming of public officers.
“It also approved a range of disciplinary measures affecting several other officers. Ten senior officers were reduced in rank, comprising three Superintendents of Police demoted to Deputy Superintendents of Police, two Deputy Superintendents of Police reduced to Assistant Superintendents of Police, and five Assistant Superintendents of Police demoted to the rank of Inspector. Two other officers were compulsorily retired in the public interest.
“The disciplinary actions also included severe reprimands for 10 officers, reprimands for five officers, warning letters for three officers and a letter of advice to one officer. The commission, however, exonerated seven officers after clearing them of any wrongdoing,” the statement revealed.
Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd), reiterated the board’s zero-tolerance policy towards indiscipline in the Nigeria Police Force.
“The current Board of the PSC under my watch will not condone any form of misconduct by police officers,” DIG Argungu stated.
“The commission will continue to uphold discipline in the Force and match all forms of misconduct with commensurate disciplinary actions. We would also continue to encourage and motivate hard work for deserving officers through our established reward system.”
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to entrenching accountability, professionalism and public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.
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