The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that reducing its share of aviation revenue could weaken safety oversight and affect Nigeria’s performance in future International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audits.
The regulator opposed a proposal before the National Assembly to change the sharing formula for the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge. The proposed amendment would reduce NCAA’s allocation from 56 per cent to 40 per cent while increasing the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency’s (NAMA) share to 40 per cent.
NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the agency was already underfunded and warned that further cuts could affect aircraft inspections, staff training, safety monitoring, and compliance with global aviation standards.
He stressed that strengthening NAMA should not come at the expense of the aviation regulator, adding that reduced funding could put Nigeria’s aviation safety rating at risk.
Aviation experts, however, called for a broader review of funding challenges across the sector, including government remittances, rising operational costs, and the need for better financial management by aviation agencies.
Industry stakeholders agreed that both NCAA and NAMA play vital roles in ensuring safe air travel, but urged authorities to find a balanced solution that improves aviation infrastructure without weakening regulatory oversight.
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