The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has directed the suspension of services to 11 domestic airlines over unpaid financial obligations owed to aviation agencies.

According to an internal memo dated May 22 and signed by the NCAA’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Olufemi Odukoya, all directorates were instructed not to provide services to the affected airlines without financial clearance.

The memo stated that the directive was issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation under a “no-pay-no-service” policy aimed at recovering outstanding debts.

The affected airlines include Air Peace, Ibom Air, Arik Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Umza Air, NG Eagle, Max Air, Caverton Helicopters, Overland Airways, Rano Air, and ValueJet.

The development comes weeks after the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) threatened to withdraw services from indebted airlines over unpaid charges.

In April, President Bola Tinubu approved a 30 percent discount on debts owed by domestic carriers to aviation agencies in a bid to ease financial pressure on operators.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had explained that the debts covered parking charges owed to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), navigational fees due to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and other operational levies.

The NCAA’s latest action is expected to increase pressure on the affected airlines to settle their outstanding obligations before services are restored.