RismadarVoice Reporters, August 12, 2026
The Former General Secretary of the Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, Mr John Ojikutu, has called on the House of Representatives to require the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to contribute five per cent of its commercial airport revenue to support aviation safety agencies.
Ojikutu proposed in a presentation to the House Committee on Aviation, where he advocated a comprehensive review of the existing distribution formula for the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, Cargo Sales Charge and Chartered Flights Charge.
He argued that the current sharing arrangement among the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau and Nigerian Meteorological Agency did not adequately reflect the different responsibilities and operational demands of the agencies.
According to him, the distribution formula should consider factors such as the number of personnel deployed by each agency, the quantity of operational equipment required, geographical coverage, operating hours and the safety responsibilities assigned to each institution.
Ojikutu noted that the five per cent charges were established to support mandatory aviation safety services but questioned whether the current allocation system was meeting the sector’s needs.
He said agencies with significant operational and safety responsibilities required adequate funding to maintain infrastructure, equipment and personnel.
Ojikutu said FAAN should be included among the contributors to the aviation safety funding pool rather than being viewed solely as an airport infrastructure manager.
He noted that the authority generates substantial income from several commercial and non-aeronautical activities, including passenger terminal services, aircraft landing and parking charges, cargo operations, car parks, toll gates, fuel sales, car-hire services, land and office rentals, shopping malls and restaurants.
Other revenue-generating activities include airline check-in counters, aerobridges, VIP lounges and other commercial services operated within airport facilities.
According to Ojikutu, FAAN benefits from the aviation ecosystem and should therefore contribute to financing the safety infrastructure that supports airport and flight operations.
He said, “FAAN, being a commercial airport services operator, should contribute five per cent of its airport sales service charges into the general pool for aviation safety services.”
Ojikutu also proposed changes to the distribution of the existing five per cent aviation safety fund.
He recommended increasing NAMA’s allocation from 22 per cent to 40 per cent, citing the agency’s extensive responsibilities and the high cost of maintaining infrastructure required to ensure safe air navigation.
NAMA is responsible for air traffic control and navigational services for commercial, private, government, diplomatic and military aircraft operating within Nigeria’s airspace.
Ojikutu said the agency has more than 800 air traffic controllers, over 500 engineers and technologists, as well as more than 1,000 administrative and support personnel.
He warned that inadequate funding could threaten critical aviation infrastructure, particularly when the maintenance, replacement or calibration of essential equipment is delayed.
For the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Ojikutu recommended that its share of the common fund should not exceed 40 per cent, compared with its current 56 per cent allocation.
He argued that the NCAA already receives revenue from more than 15 other sources apart from the five per cent aviation charges.
He therefore called for a review of its share to ensure that the limited funds available for aviation safety are distributed according to operational responsibilities and actual financial requirements.
Ojikutu said the proposed review should ensure that aviation safety funding is based on the level of responsibility, operational exposure and resources required by each agency rather than an outdated allocation formula.
He stressed that the debate was not simply about revenue sharing but about ensuring that agencies responsible for protecting passengers, aircraft and Nigeria’s airspace have sufficient resources to perform their duties effectively.
