THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority 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.
News Point Nigeria reports that the directive was contained in an internal memo dated May 22, 2026, obtained by our correspondent on Sunday.
According to the memo, all departments of the aviation authority have been instructed to withhold regulatory and administrative services from the affected airlines until they settle their outstanding debts or reach agreements on repayment plans.
At the centre of the dispute are the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge, statutory funds collected by airlines on behalf of the NCAA to support safety oversight, personnel training, and economic regulation within Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The memo further directed all NCAA directorates to suspend services to the listed airlines pending financial clearance from the Directorate of Finance and Accounts.
The document was signed by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, and circulated to the authority’s regional offices. It was also copied to the Director-General of Civil Aviation and other senior officials.
Airlines affected by the directive 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.
The memo stated: “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.”
Under the directive, the affected operators risk immediate interruptions in regulatory support, a development that has raised concerns among airlines, passengers, and other stakeholders over possible operational disruptions, delays, and broader implications for the aviation sector.
