The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned Overland Airline over allegations of exploiting customers through costly flight tickets, particularly along the Lagos-Abuja-Ilorin route.
Director of Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed on his verified X handle that the agency met with Overland to hear its side. The airline argued that aviation taxes are charged on tickets flown, not purchased, claiming it has a standing agreement with the tax authority.
Achimugu said that, pending clarification from the National Revenue Service (NRS), Overland has been instructed to facilitate refunds to affected passengers if taxes are deemed payable on tickets purchased before 2026 but flown in 2026.
READ ALSO:
-
NCAA Facilitates Airlifting of 189 Passengers Stranded in Abuja to Kano
-
NCAA Slams ₦5m Fine on Qatar Airways over Passengers’ Rights Violations
-
NCAA Probes VDM, Mr Jollof Clash Onboard, Vows Disciplinary Action
-
NCAA Summons Domestic Airlines over Passengers’ Flights Delay, Cancellation
The airline fears it may be forced to pay a backlog of taxes if the NRS enforces retrospective taxation. Overland must present the NRS response to the NCAA within 10 days.
Passengers had labelled Overland’s ticket pricing outrageous and exploitative, claiming prices were arbitrary and higher than those of other airlines on the same routes.
Achimugu stated, “We summoned the airline yesterday. Our determination is that Overland seeks clarification from the tax body regarding retrospective taxation and, if applicable, facilitates refunds for tickets purchased before 2026.
“Any prior agreement between the airline and any agency is overtaken by these new developments, unless confirmed otherwise by the NRS. Our Director of Air Transport Regulations confirmed that the tax should not apply to tickets purchased before 2026, but further clarification is required.”
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
