The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted domestic airlines a 90-day grace period on the implementation of Advance Payment Guarantees (APGs) targeted at ensuring timely remittance of the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).
This decision is coming after a high-level engagement between the aviation regulator and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) which was held on Monday, 2 February 2026, at the NCAA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting was convened after the AON formally requested clarification on the NCAA’s directive requiring airlines to provide bank-backed APGs. According to NCAA, the guarantees are to safeguard passenger-derived statutory funds, which airlines collect in trust on behalf of the aviation system.
Speaking to the airline operators, Chris Najomo, the Director-General of Civil Aviation, said the policy was rooted in the Civil Aviation Act 2022 (as amended) and aimed at strengthening financial discipline within the sector.
“The five per cent Ticket Sales Charge is a cost-recovery mechanism that supports aviation safety oversight, economic regulation and inter-agency responsibilities,” Najomo said.
Najomo expressed concern over consistent delays by some operators in remitting charges, stressing that such delays have continued to disrupt regulatory funding and oversight effectiveness.
“In an industry where safety and regulatory effectiveness are non-negotiable, predictable funding is essential. Advance Payment Guarantees are globally recognised tools for mitigating financial risks associated with statutory collections,” he said.
