NCAA Warns Against Cuts to Aviation Safety Funding

Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), expressed concerns regarding recent attempts to reduce the NCAA's share of ticket sale charges in favor of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). He stated that such actions could cripple the NCAA's operations and compromise aviation safety.

Achimugu emphasized that the NCAA collects a 5 percent ticket sale charge (TSC) to support its regulatory oversight, which is crucial for maintaining safety standards in the aviation sector. He warned that reducing the NCAA's financial capacity would hinder its ability to meet regulatory requirements and could pose a grave risk to travel safety.

Achimugu also noted that NAMA is intended to be a self-sustaining agency and should not rely on government funding, while the NCAA's safety regulatory functions are funded by the government. He urged stakeholders to carefully consider the implications of any financial cuts to the NCAA.