By Tanimu Hassan, Abuja
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has expressed its readiness to implement stricter enforcement measures to confront the growing burden of poor compliance with financial regulatory standards and obligations by airlines.
The Authority pledged to introduce a Zero Debt Strategy beginning in January 2026, consisting of mandatory Advance Payment Guarantees (APG) from airlines to address rising indebtedness to the Authority.
The move was disclosed by the Director-General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, during the 2025 Civil Aviation Cost Recovery Optimization Stakeholders’ Retreat themed “Strengthening Collaboration for Revenue Optimization and Operational Efficiency” in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria.
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Captain Najomo, represented by the Director of Operations, Licensing and Training Standards (DOLTS), Captain Donald Spiff, in his speech, condemned the persistent failure of some airlines to meet their financial obligations, describing it as a major threat to the sector’s stability.
This new framework, according to Captain Najomo, will strengthen accountability, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure sustainable growth in line with the Federal Government’s economic agenda and the strategic initiatives of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in terms of revenue optimization and the growth of the aviation sector.