EFCC, NCAA join forces against fraud in aviation

By Sola Ojo, Abuja

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has sought the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in tackling fraud and other financial crimes threatening the country’s aviation industry.

The NCAA Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Captain Chris Najomo, made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, September 2, during a courtesy visit to the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, at the Commission’s headquarters.

Najomo warned that fraudulent practices were undermining the NCAA’s safety oversight and eroding investor confidence.

He identified high-value transactions such as aircraft purchases, leasing arrangements, foreign maintenance contracts, and procurement of safety infrastructure as areas most vulnerable to fraud and money laundering.

He raised concerns over the persistent non-remittance of the mandatory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) by some commercial airlines, saying the practice deprived the Authority of revenue crucial for safety regulation.

“Non-remittance weakens the NCAA’s ability to fund safety oversight and operational efficiency and may require the EFCC’s intervention to investigate cases where deliberate withholding, diversion, or misappropriation of these funds is suspected.

“Some operators deliberately under-report revenues, manipulate ticketing systems, or divert funds, thereby sabotaging the NCAA’s ability to regulate effectively.

“In such cases, the EFCC’s intervention is necessary,” Najomo stated.

Najomo also flagged the problem of illegal charter operations disguised as private flights, which often involve unregulated financial flows.

According to him, the NCAA would benefit from the EFCC’s financial intelligence in unmasking such activities, requesting further collaboration in training NCAA staff, joint sensitisation workshops, and intelligence sharing.

In his remarks, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, welcomed the request and promised full support to sanitise the aviation sector.

“With the kind of work you do, when people see us beside you, they will take you seriously.

“Aviation is an area where we have seen money laundering, particularly through chartered services.

“That is why we have been reaching out to you, and we will continue to do so until we achieve the desired results,” he said.

Olukoyede urged the NCAA to intensify surveillance in the private wings of airports, which he described as hotbeds for illicit financial transactions.

He disclosed that the EFCC would designate senior officers to work with the NCAA on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cover joint investigations, compliance monitoring, and intelligence exchange.

The EFCC boss reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to combat fraudulent ticketing systems, illicit financial flows, and non-remittance of statutory charges by airlines, pledging to safeguard the aviation sector from economic sabotage.