The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intensify efforts against fraud and economic crimes within the country’s aviation industry.
The call was made on Tuesday when the NCAA Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Details of the meeting were shared in a statement posted on the EFCC’s official X handle.
Najomo expressed concerns about fraudulent practices undermining safety oversight and operational transparency in the aviation sector. He highlighted high-value transactions vulnerable to abuse, including aircraft purchases, leasing arrangements, foreign maintenance contracts, and procurement of safety infrastructure.
“Non-remittance weakens the NCAA’s ability to fund safety oversight and operational efficiency, and may require EFCC’s intervention to investigate cases where deliberate withholding, diversion, or misappropriation of these funds is suspected,” he said.
He further alleged that some operators deliberately under-report revenues, manipulate ticketing systems, or divert funds, crippling the NCAA’s regulatory capacity. Najomo also flagged illegal charter operations disguised as private flights, which involve unregulated financial flows, stressing the need for EFCC’s financial intelligence to expose such practices.
To strengthen oversight, Najomo proposed joint initiatives, including training NCAA staff to detect financial red flags, organising sensitisation workshops, and sharing intelligence with the EFCC.
In response, EFCC Chairman Olukoyede welcomed the collaboration and revealed plans to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both agencies on joint investigations, intelligence sharing, and compliance monitoring.
“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 until we achieve the desired results,” Olukoyede said.
