The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has declared that it stands by the statistics and amount of money it published recently that it generated from the 5 per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) in 2017.
The regulatory agency also insisted that the N400.1bn it said it earned from TSC and CSC were the true reflection of its earnings within the period, adding that the figures and statistics were verifiable even with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other platforms provided by the airlines themselves.
NCAA also accused “some stakeholders” in the country’s aviation industry of intentionally spreading falsehood in order to discredit the figures and other statistics emanating from its office.
A statement by Mr. Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, declared that the prerequisite NCAA 5% TSC paid by passengers was indicated on the ticket, which he said were warehoused by NCAA and could be verified.
Adurogboye explained that its domestic billing process required the airlines to submit to agency their Passenger Departure Manifest (PDM) immediately after every flight departure.
He hinted that it was from the file fare that 5 per cent TSC is calculated; stressing that the automated integrated system therefore ensured authenticity between NCAA server and the airlines.
He added that the process of billing 5 per cent CSC required the airline to submit airway bill in accordance to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs), stressing that the weight and rate stated on the airway bill was used in the calculation of the charge.
He emphasised that the statistics available for 5 per cent CSC was not the same as the harmonised figures, stressing that cargo data captured the total weight of the cargo (import and export) while NCAA chargeable weight was on export cargo only.
He maintained further that foreign airlines with Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangement with Nigeria are not required to pay royalty on cargo airlift, adding that even though the cargo weights were captured, but not billable.
He added: “Furthermore, the authority authenticates the automated data output with the hard copy data submitted by the airlines. This serves as verification and determination of the actual flown passengers.
“The following categories are non-revenue passengers and are therefore exempted from 5 per cent TSC calculation. These are diplomats, infants less than two years. Those whose journeys do not originate from Nigeria (ticket sold offshore).
“In ticket sales there are promotional, discounted, staff and low season’s fares. It is the aggregate of these that mischief makers sum up and begin to tout figures.”
