A fresh dispute has arisen in Nigeria’s aviation sector over a Federal Government proposal to adjust the revenue-sharing formula among aviation agencies, primarily between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
The proposed changes relate to the distribution of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge. Currently, the NCAA receives 56% of the revenue, while NAMA gets 22%, with the remainder allocated to other agencies like the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.
NCAA representatives cautioned that any reduction in their funding could impair their safety oversight capabilities and affect Nigeria’s performance in international aviation audits, emphasizing their existing underfunding.
Conversely, NAMA officials argued that they need more funds to maintain essential air navigation infrastructure and supported the proposed review to establish a more sustainable funding model.
Aviation expert Engr. Segun Oni highlighted the need for transparency and fairness in any modifications to the revenue-sharing arrangement, stressing the importance of aviation safety amidst financial challenges in the sector.