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NCAA Threatens To Sanction Domestic Airlines Over N19bn Debt On Ticket Sales, Issues 30-Day Ultimatum
NCAA Threatens Sanction Over N19bn Debt Owed By Domestic Airlines Issues 30-Day Ultimatum
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has threatened to sanction domestic airlines for over N19 billion in debt on ticket sales.
The authority said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a meeting organized by the ministry of aviation and its agencies with scheduled airline operators and ground handlers.
Speaking at the meeting, Musa Nuhu, director-general, NCAA, said he had appealed to the airlines to pay their debts.
Nuhu said the airlines were currently owing about N19 billion on ticket charges collected from passengers but refused to remit to the agency.
He also said sanctions would be taken against any defaulting airlines if they refused to pay within a month.
“The airlines must enter an MoU on how they will pay their debts in the next 30 days from August 30, 2022, or their license (sic) will be suspended at the expiration of the deadline,” he said.
Nuhu said he was displeased with the recent letter written by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, demanding a review of multiple charges from aviation agencies.
He added that all the charges met best practices as obtained all over the country, adding that many neighboring countries even charge higher than Nigeria.
“We cannot provide services and you want the government to grant a waiver. How can the agencies manage to survive?” he said.
“NCAA sustains on internally generated revenue (IGR) without any money from the federal government.
“We have not increased our charges in 13 years. We are still collecting the same charge. So, nothing like a burden on airline operators.”
On his part, Matthew Pwajok, acting managing director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), said local airlines ought to be considerate in their dealings.
According to him, the local airlines were owing the sum of N5.73billon as of June 30, for both terminal navigation charges (TNC), and en route navigation charges (ENC).
He added that the domestic airlines were also indebted to NAMA on international operations to the tune of 9,086,401.78 dollars as of June 30.
Pwajok said the agency may suspend the provision of its services to any airline still owing and refuses to pay on time.
“NAMA is 100 percent self-funded from its internally generated revenue for salaries, running costs, training, and capital projects, and 25 percent of the revenue generated by the agency is deducted at source by the federal government,” he added.
Also speaking on the matter, Rabiu Yadudu, managing director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said such debts will go a long way in improving the standards in the airports.
He also urged the AON to strengthen their collaboration with aviation agencies to collectively develop the industry.
“Sitting down to work together will rapidly help the growth of the aviation sector. No airline has ever come to FAAN and has been turned down by FAAN. We reason together,” Yadudu said.
“Collaboration is the way of the aviation industry. There is absolutely no reason to undermine one another. We need one another. We need to respect and protect each other.”
Responding to the appeal, Kashim Shettima, chief executive officer, Skye Jet, said the NCAA is also not “perfect”, and issues raised could be resolved amicably.
“Yes, airlines owe money but the airlines are also deeply challenged because they can’t get fuel or access dollars freely. They buy dollars in the black market. We must come together to resolve our problems,” he said.
In addition, Allen Onyema, AON vice-president, and CEO of Air Peace appealed to all domestic airlines that were indebted to any of aviation agencies to pay their debts.
This is to bring to attention the news of the purported closure of Lagos Country Club signed by the Chairman of the erstwhile Caretaker Committee of the Club and its Vice Chairman, Chief Muniru Moradeyo and Mr Sunny Ukhuelegbe.
It will be recalled that in its bid to resolve the protracted leadership crisis, the Lagos Country Club, LCC, held a requisitioned Extraordinary General Meeting last Thursday in line with a valid Consent Judgement delivered by Justice A Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on July 3, 2024, duly signed by representatives of the Board of Trustees of the Club and the then Management Council.
The EGM, which had over 160 financial members of the Club in attendance constituted a new Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the club and organise election into the various vacant positions within a period of two months. This is as a result of the inability of the previous Caretaker Committee to deliver on the Consent Judgement mandate of returning the Club to normalcy within a period of three months. A mandate which expired last Friday.
The newly constituted Caretaker Committee led by Mr Adewole Gege as Chairman, Mr Adetayo Adegboye as Secretary, Barr Olawole Harris Isa as Legal Adviser as well as the Chairmen of the ten Sections of the Club were sworn in yesterday, Saturday, October 12, 2024 by two Past Presidents and a Past Vice President of the Club in attendance, Chief Tajudeen Akande ,Arc Funmi Bamkole and Mr Igho Okor.
While administering the Oath of Office for the Chairman, Secretary General and Legal Adviser of the newly Constituted Caretaker Committee, Chief Tajudeen Akande said it is no longer time to sit on the fence because history will record our roles on how we contributed to the resolution of the conflicts in the Club.
Also Arc Funmi Bamkole who administered the oath of office for all Chairmen of Sections present at the brief ceremony, enjoined all to work together in harmony, be faithful the mandate and to the oath they swore to.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Wole Gege, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee promised to hit the ground running with a resolve to deliver on mandate. He assured members that his Committee will not only be transparent in their day to day running of the Club but will also ensure that the rule of law guides all the Committee’s decisions and deliberations.
According to Mr Ayokunle Jimoh, a former Secretary General of the Club. “This is a very important period in the history of our club. This is where we are now and as you can see, members are here in their numbers. They are tired of the stagnation in the club and they want to move forward.”
Sir Ladi Smith, a member of the club since 1985, stated ” Now l am happy we’re going to have new elections. We’re going to have a revamped and reengineered Club. We want to make sure the constitution works for us. And where we believe the constitution is also not working for us, we as members are going to restructure the constitution to work for us.”
According to the Chairman of Darts Section who is a member of the newly constituted Caretaker Committee, Mrs Adekunbi Akin-Taylor, “This is a social club where people pay their annual subscriptiona to come in and have peace of mind. So, it’s a matter of saying we’ve got to set this club free and we’ve got to get the club back to what we want it to be. And this, we are set to achieve”
Members of staff are elated with this development and have pledged their allegiance to the newly Constituted Committee. The entire atmosphere in the club was that of celebration, even the food vendors confirmed they have not recorded such high sales volume in a period of three months.
Apapa Iganmu Constituency II Praises Hon. Musibau Lawal As Stakeholder Meeting Holds
– Political Big-Wigs In Apapa Iganmu Commend Law Maker As 300 Constituents Enjoy Lagos Health Insurance Scheme
– Lagos Health Insurance Scheme: Hon. Musibau Aina Lawal Registers 300 Constituent… Political Big-Wigs Commend Effort
Sahara Weekly Reports That To make life better for the people of Apapa Iganmu COnstituency II, Hon. Muisbau Aina Lawal, a member of Lagos State House of Assembly has registered well over 300 members of his Constituency into the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (Ilera Eko)
The benefit came during the 9th Constituency Stakeholders’ meeting held simultaneously in all 40 Constituencies in Lagos State on the 11th of October 2024 with the topic: “Ensuring Food Security for a Sustainable Future: Youth Participation and Home-Grown Farming.
Also, the Constituents had the privilege to check their details as there were Dental Nurses and other health personnel on the ground to add color to the event.
The event began with a welcome address by the Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Akande Muhammed, in her speech, she welcomed everyone to the meeting and also expressed gratitude to Hon. Musibau for his remarkable achievements during the few months in office and his dedication to the growth and development of Apapa II.
Delivering the message of the Speaker. Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, the Host, Hon. Musibau Aina Lawa,l highlighted the importance of food security to the Countr, more specifically Lagos Stat,e due to its population, the steps taken by the Lagos State Government to improve Food Security in the State. He further stated that empowering Youth to participate in farming is essential to ensuring long-term food security and economic stability in the country.
Also, Hon. Ayodeji Joseph, the MD/CEO of LSDPC and the Chief Host, expressed confidence in the ability and capabilities of Hon. Lawal Aina Musibau. He assured the good people of Apapa II that the Host had requisite experience for the delivery, and the testimonies of people attest to the fact.
During the question-and-answer session, Hon. Musibau reiterated his commitment to Maintaining an open line of communication with the people. He took the opportunity to outline his achievements in areas such as employment facilitation, financial support, medical treatment subsidization, empowerment, admission facilitation, etc.
These achievements were met with applause from the Constituents, who expressed satisfaction with his scorecard and encouraged him not to relent in the discharge of his
Legislative duties.
In attendance was a representative from Oba Fatai Aromire Ojora, the Ojora of Ijora and Iganmu Kingdom, ably represented by the Baale of Marine Beach, Dr. Joseph Ogunmola, also Party Leaders such as Hon. Ayodeji Joseph (MD/CEO, LSPDC); Hon. Funmilayo Akande Muhammed (Chairman Apapa Iganmu LCDA); Hon. Wale Babatunde; Hon. Morufu Gbadamosi Ojora, Hon. Toyin Aweda; Baales, Baloguns and Iyalodes.
Also was a large number of Community Members, representatives from the Lagos State House of Assembly; Youth Representatives, Security Agencies, Media Representatives, and representatives from the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Wife of the Honourable, Mrs. Zaynab Abosede Lawal also supported people in the area with different gift items worth millions of naira as a quiz competition was held to commemorate the gathering.
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