The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given 30 foreign airlines that are yet to automate their remittances of five percent ticket sales charge/cargo sales charge (TSC/CSC) remittance to the agency up to December 31, 2018 to do so or face sanction.

NCAA said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Sam Adurogboye that the ultimatum was contained in a letter signed by the agency’s director of air transport regulation (DATR), Group. Capt Edem Oyo-Ita

He said the letter dated September 14, 2018 had been dispatched to the affected airlines.

Adurogboye said except Lufthansa German Airlines, the rest are all African airlines operating to Nigeria under the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).

“This is coming on the premise that in spite of regular meetings, reminder letters and follow-up by the authority to airline’s management, these defaulters refused to comply with the federal government’s directives on Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP) and abide by the provisions in the BASA between Nigeria and their respective countries.

“It is important to note that in line with Part 18.12.5 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), 2015 that ‘all domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria shall forward to the Authority through an electronic platform provided by the Authority, all relevant documents such as flown coupons, passenger or cargo manifest, air waybills, load sheets, clients’ service invoices and other documents necessary for accurate billing within forty-eight (48) hours after each flight.’

“In the same vein Part V, Section 12(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 stated that the 5% TSC/CSC to be collected from passengers by Airlines and paid to NCAA. This collections which are shared among the agencies are meant for the maintenance of safety critical, provisions of infrastructural facilities and for meeting their numerous obligations (sic).

“Federal government has come up with the introduction of this Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP) for revenue collection to engender data integrity, transparency, transaction accountability and control of revenue to the Authority in 2011 which is at no cost to airline operators,” said Adurogboye.