FAAN urges international airlines to strengthen protocols and improve passenger experience in Nigeria.

–         As NCAA lists 11 local airlines on no-pay-no-service over debts

–         Aero Contractors MD: Directive may jeopardize airline safety

Chinedu Eze

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has urged international airlines operating in Nigeria to strengthen their protocol services and improve facilitation to give passengers a better pre‑boarding experience.

FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, gave this advice during a meeting with members of the International Airlines Association of Nigeria (IAAN) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos over the weekend.

In a separate move to enforce debt‑free transactions with Nigerian airlines, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has placed 11 domestic operators on a “No‑pay‑no‑service” list for outstanding financial obligations to the agency.

The decision was announced in a memo dated 22 May 2026, directing all NCAA directorates to withhold services from the affected airlines until financial clearance is obtained from the Directorate of Finance and Accounts (DFA).

Mr. Agbebire called for greater collaboration between airlines and the agency to improve service delivery. In a statement, he described the meeting as a lively, interactive session that allowed both parties to discuss issues of mutual benefit.

The Director said the meeting aimed to foster a stronger working relationship between the Department of Protocol and Passages and airline operators, while also giving airlines a chance to voice their challenges.

Airline representatives raised operational concerns, including inadequate signage amid ongoing landside construction, insufficient lifts, shuttle bus difficulties, and issues with airside ramp markings affected by construction activities. They also requested greater support to enhance customer experience.

FAAN assured stakeholders that all complaints and observations raised during the meeting would be carefully reviewed with a view to improving service delivery and operational standards across the airports.

The “No‑pay‑no‑service” memo, signed by NCAA Director of Finance and Accounts Mr. Olufemi Odukoya, was circulated to the agency’s operational departments and regional offices. The directive was also copied to the Director‑General of Civil Aviation, regional managers, and other senior officials within the authority.

Airlines named in the directive include Air Peace, Ibom Air, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NG Eagle, Max Air, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air, and ValueJet.

Reacting to the directive, Managing Director and CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told THISDAY in a telephone interview that the approach may be inappropriate because, as a regulatory authority, NCAA provides safety‑critical services that airlines cannot operate without.

Sanusi argued that if airlines are stopped from operating because NCAA does not provide those safety‑critical services, they cannot generate revenue to pay their debts. He noted that the agency has other ways to sanction airlines without withdrawing essential services.

“NCAA offers safety‑critical services to Nigerian airlines without which airlines cannot operate safely. NCAA conducts safety oversight, must give approval before aircraft can be operated by an airline after incidents or accidents, and oversees all activities of an airline that affect safety,” Sanusi said. “By this directive, NCAA is sending the wrong message to the international aviation community, which may question the airworthiness of Nigerian airlines’ equipment. NCAA has many ways it can sanction the airlines. So, the agency has to explain what specific services it intends to withdraw from indebted airlines. Is it the less safety‑critical services?” he asked.

Captain Sanusi observed that the aviation industry faces a systemic problem that must be addressed for progress. He emphasized that airlines are over‑taxed and that agencies depend on charges and taxes paid by airlines, which he said is unsustainable.

“Aviation agencies are not supposed to depend on the money paid to them by the airlines. Even if the Nigerian economy improves in the future, the idea of airlines paying the agencies for their sustenance is not sustainable,” he added. “So, NCAA really needs to explain further on the services it has withdrawn from airlines until they pay because it provides safety and economic oversight to the airlines,” the Managing Director of Nigeria’s oldest airline concluded.