Controversy Trails Missing N1Bn Mast Charges at NCAA

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is embroiled in a controversy that descended into a complete embarrassment following accusations of fraud against the current management in the regulatory agency over collection of mast clearance charges.

A source close to the agency told our correspondent that an audit report has indicted the NCAA management over the payment of N699 million fine by a telecommunication company (name withheld) in Nigeria.

But, in a counter-claim, another source close to the management accused one of its concessionaires, Moon Mast, in-charge of collecting aviation height clearance and charges, of defrauding the agency in connivance with a past acting- director-general in the agency and former Minister of Aviation.

But, spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, in a telephone conversation with National Mirror correspondent declined to comment on the issue, saying he didn’t have details.

He, however, promised to get across to our correspondent on the matter, but was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.

National Mirror claimed that a  source close to the agency alleged that N699 million was paid by a communication giant in Nigeria as ‘aviation height clearance and charges, but said the money could not be accounted for by the management and described the fund as a fraction of what the audit called “revenue leakages” in NCAA.

The technical report of the telecommunications height clearance from the Directorate of Airspace and Aerodrome Services, DAAS, said the payments were neither with invoices nor with any documented legal agreements, adding that the total money paid by the company ought to have been over N1 billion.

Sources in DAAS believed that there appeared a deliberate ploy to deny the authority close to N300m as receivable revenue.

But, another source in the agency, accused some senior management staff of perpetuating fraud in NCAA, which he said had been on for close to a decade in the system.

The source claimed that Moon Mast, which hitherto used to collect mast clearance charges for NCAA was charging about 5 per cent, but a particular DG (name withheld) suspended the collection of the charges by the company, saying that even the International Air Transport Association, IATA, which collects some charges for it was not paid up to 3 percent and wondered why Moon Mast should collect much.

The source however purported that immediately the former DG was removed by the government, a certain Acting DG in connivance with a former minister signed the company on at 20 per cent commission as against the initial 5 per cent, which was suspended by the management.