The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed its offices across the country to deny regulatory services to 11 domestic airlines over outstanding debts owed to the agency.
The affected airlines were reportedly placed on a “No Pay, No Service” list through an internal memo dated May 22, 2026, signed by the NCAA’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya.
The directive instructed officials not to provide further regulatory support to the airlines until they obtain financial clearance from the agency’s finance department.
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Among the airlines affected are Air Peace, Ibom Air, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines, NG Eagle, Max Air, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air, ValueJet and Umza Air.
The move comes amid worsening financial pressure in Nigeria’s aviation sector, with many local carriers battling rising aviation fuel prices, foreign exchange instability, maintenance costs and liquidity challenges.
Several operators have reportedly struggled for months to meet statutory financial obligations to regulators and service providers.
The NCAA’s latest action also follows growing complaints from passengers over persistent flight delays, cancellations and refund disputes involving domestic airlines.
Earlier in April 2026, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, warned airlines against abandoning passengers during operational disruptions or refusing to process refunds.
According to him, while airlines face genuine operational difficulties such as expensive Jet A1 fuel, bird strikes and technical issues, passengers should not suffer from poor communication and lack of accountability.
He stressed that airline staff must remain available during disruptions to provide updates and assistance to affected travellers, condemning situations where officials allegedly disappear from airport terminals during crises.
Although Achimugu did not disclose the airlines with the highest number of complaints, he revealed that most complaints received by the regulator were linked to just two carriers.
The NCAA warned that continuous service failures could weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry at a time when the government is seeking investments and stability within the sector.
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