The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has suspended its planned enforcement of the “No Pay, No Service” directive against domestic airlines over outstanding statutory remittances following extensive consultations with stakeholders and concerns over rising aviation fuel costs.

The regulatory authority said the temporary suspension was aimed at maintaining operational stability within the aviation sector while discussions continue on how airlines can settle outstanding obligations without disrupting operations.

In a statement, the NCAA clarified that the suspension did not amount to a waiver or cancellation of debts owed by airlines, stressing that all operators remained responsible for settling outstanding statutory charges.

The authority noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had already approved a 30 per cent concession on outstanding aviation charges owed by domestic carriers as part of government efforts to cushion the impact of high Jet A1 fuel prices on the sector.

According to the NCAA, the five per cent Ticket and Cargo Sales Charge remains a statutory levy established under the Civil Aviation Act and collected by airlines on behalf of the aviation ecosystem.

The agency explained that the remittances are critical for sustaining regulatory oversight and aviation safety operations, noting that the NCAA operates on a cost-recovery basis without direct Federal Government funding for daily activities.

Reacting to the development, the Airline Operators of Nigeria welcomed ongoing engagements with government but maintained that domestic airlines were not indebted to the NCAA for regulatory services rendered.

The umbrella body for domestic carriers stated that all regulatory services provided by the NCAA were paid for in advance before delivery, including aircraft inspections, licence validations and documentation renewals.

According to the association, the disputed issue relates specifically to the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, which it described as a statutory tax imposed on passengers rather than payment for regulatory services.

The AON further disclosed that several airlines had previously maintained dedicated accounts through which monthly remittances were processed until recent financial pressures caused by the global increase in aviation fuel costs and the Iran-Israel-USA conflict.

The association called on the Federal Government to amend the Civil Aviation Act to allow the NCAA collect statutory charges directly from passengers rather than through airlines acting as collection agents.

It argued that domestic operators currently bear additional banking and transaction costs associated with remitting the charges.

Despite the disagreement over the charges, both the NCAA and airline operators reaffirmed their commitment to continued dialogue aimed at preserving stability, safety and growth within Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to aviation liberalisation and stronger regional air connectivity as part of efforts to drive economic growth and integration across Africa.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said Nigeria was fully supporting reforms aimed at transforming Africa into a more connected and competitive aviation market.

Speaking at the Annual Lecture Series of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Abuja, the minister said Africa must urgently move from policy declarations to practical implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market and the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Represented by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Keyamo described aviation as a strategic tool for economic transformation, trade expansion and regional cooperation.

He warned that Africa would continue to lose billions of dollars in economic opportunities if the continent remained fragmented and poorly connected.

According to him, enhanced connectivity would increase flight frequencies, reduce airfares, strengthen tourism and improve trade volumes among African nations.

The minister identified legal certainty, commercial enablement and institutional trust as the three pillars necessary for building a sustainable continental aviation market.

He disclosed that Nigeria had implemented reforms targeted at improving investor confidence, including legal frameworks designed to strengthen compliance with international aviation agreements and improve judicial efficiency.

Keyamo said the reforms would support safer operations, fleet modernisation and easier access to aircraft financing for operators.

He also revealed that Nigeria’s partnership with Boeing was expected to deepen technical expertise, improve training opportunities and strengthen the country’s aerospace capabilities.

The minister stressed that liberalisation must also protect local interests through strong regulatory oversight, fair competition and deliberate local-content development.

He called on African governments to invest more aggressively in aviation training institutions, regulatory agencies, greener airport infrastructure and technical education.

Keyamo maintained that the future of African economic integration depended heavily on the continent’s ability to build efficient, safe and sustainable air transport systems.

He added that Nigeria would continue working with regional and international partners to ensure that African skies become more open, accessible and economically beneficial to millions of people across the continent.

The National President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma, are set to headline discussions at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Transport Lecture scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Lagos.

The annual lecture, organised by Transport Day Media, will focus on the theme: “Multi-modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges & Contribution to National Growth.”

The event will hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, and is expected to attract key stakeholders from the public and private sectors of the transportation and logistics industry.

Organisers said the lecture would provide a strategic platform for industry players, policymakers, regulators, and academics to examine safety concerns affecting Nigeria’s road, rail, maritime, and aviation transportation systems.

Dr. Oyeyemi, former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Prof. Ugboma are expected to deliver keynote presentations on the need for stronger safety frameworks, policy coordination, and sustainable transport systems capable of supporting national economic growth.

Over the years, the Nigeria Transport Lecture has featured prominent industry leaders and policymakers, including former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, described the annual lecture as an important platform for addressing critical challenges facing the transport and logistics sector.

“Every year, we use the lecture as a platform to discuss contemporary issues in the industry. This year, we settled for multi-modal transportation safety because without safety, the various multi-modal transport initiatives by governments at different levels may be undermined,” Kintum said.

He added that the lecture forms part of Transport Day Media’s contribution towards building a sustainable, efficient, and globally competitive transport and logistics sector in Nigeria and across Africa.

Kintum noted that the event would also encourage policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder collaboration aimed at improving transportation safety standards nationwide.

Industry stakeholders expected at the lecture include operators, regulators, government officials, logistics professionals, academics, and representatives of transport agencies across the country.

The organisers expressed optimism that deliberations at the event would generate practical recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s multi-modal transport safety framework and supporting national development.