The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has asked the National Assembly to restore its original 65 per cent allocation from the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and Cargo Sales Charge.
Director General of Civil Aviation Chris Najomo made the request at a House of Representatives public hearing on the proposed review of the revenue-sharing formula.
Najomo argued that adequate funding was essential for the NCAA to discharge its safety, certification, surveillance, inspection and international obligations.
He said the authority depended heavily on the ticket charge, which accounts for about 80 per cent of its revenue, while the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency has several commercial revenue streams.
According to him, NAMA earns income from overflight charges, terminal navigation services, aeronautical information, calibration services, telecommunications, consultancy, property and other operational activities.
He said commercial and operational activities account for about 75 per cent of NAMA’s revenue, with the ticket charge contributing a smaller share.
Najomo also noted that NAMA benefits from other funding sources, including infrastructure support, while the NCAA bears the cost of Nigeria’s contributions to international aviation bodies.
He warned lawmakers that reducing the regulator’s principal funding source could weaken safety oversight.
Nigeria recently recorded an overall Effective Implementation score of 91.3 per cent in an international aviation safety assessment, but Najomo said the country’s weakest score was 50 per cent in the area of financial resources supporting safety oversight.
The NCAA therefore urged the House to consider the proposed revenue formula in the context of international standards and the need to maintain an independent and adequately funded regulator.
