Reducing NCAA’s Revenue Dangerous to Aviation Safety, Agency Warns

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stark warning: any attempt to diminish its statutory revenue streams could critically undermine aviation safety across the country.

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The NCAA even requires more money. Let’s not forget that the federal government makes deductions from what even comes to the NCAA, in the first place.

Michael Achimugu, NCAA's Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, stated that a proposed legislation currently before the National Assembly could weaken the authority's financial capacity. This bill aims to reduce the NCAA's share of the Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), diverting funds to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Achimugu emphasized that NAMA, by law, should be a self-sustaining entity.

Achimugu explained that the NCAA's ability to conduct effective regulatory oversight is directly tied to its financial health. A reduced budget would hinder its capacity to meet safety obligations, placing all travelers at significant risk. He highlighted that the NCAA collects five percent TSC, distributing portions to NAMA, NiMet, and NCAT as prescribed by law.

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The reason planes are not falling from the sky today under this administration, unlike in the past, is because of the NCAA.

He further argued that countries with commercialized air navigation service providers typically do not rely on government funding. NAMA was conceived as a self-funded agency, while the NCAA, as the safety regulator, was intended to be government-funded. The TSC was introduced to alleviate this burden, yet portions are still being ceded to other agencies.

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If inspectors do not possess superior technical knowledge, they cannot effectively enforce safety standards.

"The NCAA even requires more money," Achimugu asserted, noting that the federal government also makes deductions from NCAA's revenue. He credited the NCAA's stringent regulatory oversight for Nigeria's strong performance in international aviation safety audits and improved passenger rights protection. "The reason planes are not falling from the sky today under this administration... is because of the NCAA," he concluded, urging stakeholders to consider the profound implications of weakening the regulator's financial standing.

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The reason Nigeria continues to excel in safety and security audits is because of the NCAA. The reason passengers’ rights are better protected today is because of the NCAA.