The maximum penalty for airlines is N10 million, while the minimum is N1 million, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja, which has reviewed sanctions upwards for violators in the aviation sector. NCAA said that in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization, the upward reassessment of penalties was not intended to be punitive but rather to reflect contemporary reality (ICAO).
Also, the NCAA announced that the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) license for airlines that perform scheduled flight operations will now be valid for 5 years rather than the prior 3 years as permitted. Capt. Musa Nuhu, the NCAA’s Director General, revealed the information at the first session of a three-day consultation with stakeholders in the Nigerian aviation industry to discuss the proposed change to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2015.
According to him, there are also plans to increase the validity of Airlines Operating Certificate (AOC) to 5 years to avoid disruption in the operation of airlines, adding that fees and charges had not been updated since 2009.
Nuhu revealed that the Stakeholders’ Consultation is in accordance with the obligation imposed on the Authority in Section 31(5) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022 which states that “in the exercise of its power to make regulations under this section, the Authority shall consult with stakeholders including airlines, aerodrome operators, air traffic control service providers, consumers and other relevant bodies and organizations in the aviation industry.