.jpg)
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has warned that any attempt to weaken the financial independence of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) could undermine aviation safety oversight and jeopardise Nigeria's compliance with international civil aviation standards.
The caution was issued on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation in Abuja on a bill seeking to alter the sharing formula of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge among aviation agencies.
The proposed amendment seeks to reduce the NCAA's share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge to about 35 per cent, while increasing the allocation to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to about 70 per cent, despite NAMA already benefiting from 16 other statutory revenue streams.
Presenting ICAO's position, Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the organisation, Engr. Mahmud Ben-Tukur, stressed that while aviation agencies perform complementary roles, the responsibility for regulating and overseeing the safety of Nigeria's civil aviation industry rests solely with the NCAA.
He said international best practices require aviation regulators to maintain financial and operational independence, warning that placing the Authority on the same funding platform as service providers could weaken its ability to carry out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
According to him, any erosion of the NCAA's financial base would ultimately affect the effectiveness of safety regulation and oversight within Nigeria's aviation sector.
Stakeholders at the hearing echoed similar concerns, noting that the NCAA currently generates more than 70 per cent of its internally generated revenue from the Ticket Sales Charge, making the proposed reduction a significant threat to its operations.
The Authority serves as the country's aviation regulator, overseeing airlines and major agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Experts warned that reduced funding could limit the NCAA's capacity to conduct critical functions such as safety inspections, certification, surveillance and enforcement, with possible implications for the safety and efficiency of Nigeria's air transport industry.
Former NCAA Director-General and former Nigerian representative on the ICAO Council, Capt. Musa Nuhu, described an independent and adequately funded regulator as the foundation of a safe and efficient aviation sector.
He urged lawmakers to preserve the Authority's financial autonomy to ensure it continues to deliver effective regulatory oversight.
Also speaking virtually, former Nigeria's Permanent Representative to ICAO and former President of the ICAO Assembly, Dr. Bernard Aliu, alongside former Director-General of Civil Aviation, Dr. Harold Demuren, appealed to the National Assembly to safeguard the NCAA's financial independence.
They maintained that a well-funded and autonomous aviation regulator is indispensable to sustaining Nigeria's safety oversight system and preserving the country's standing within the global aviation community.
Participants at the hearing called on the National Assembly to carefully evaluate the long-term implications of the proposed amendment, warning that weakening the NCAA's financial capacity could have serious consequences for aviation safety, regulatory efficiency and investor confidence in Nigeria's aviation industry.