The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned Overland Airline following complaints of alleged exploitation of passengers through excessively high flight ticket prices.
The Director of Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this in a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, confirming that the aviation regulator has already held a meeting with the airline’s management.
According to Achimugu, Overland Airline argued that aviation taxes are charged based on when a ticket is flown rather than when it is purchased, claiming it operates under a standing agreement with the tax authority.
However, he said the NCAA has directed the airline to facilitate refunds for all affected passengers should the National Revenue Service (NRS) clarify that such charges do not apply to tickets purchased before 2026.
Achimugu explained that the airline’s concern is that it could be required to pay a backlog of taxes if the NRS rules that tickets bought before 2026 but flown in 2026 must be taxed.
He added that Overland Airline has been given a 10-day deadline to present the NCAA with an official response from the NRS on the matter.
DAILY POST recalls that several passengers had described Overland Airways’ ticket prices as outrageous and exploitative, particularly on the Lagos–Abuja–Ilorin route. The customers alleged that the fares were arbitrary and significantly higher than those of other airlines operating on the same routes.
In his statement, Achimugu said:“We summoned the airline, Overland, yesterday and heard their side of the issue. Our determination is that Overland must, within 10 days, seek clarification from the tax body on whether retrospective taxation applies to tickets purchased before 2026.
“The NCAA’s position is that any prior agreement between the airline and any party is overtaken by recent developments unless the NRS states otherwise.
“Our Director of Air Transport Regulations confirmed discussions with Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who indicated that the tax should not apply to tickets purchased before 2026, but this still requires formal clarification from the NRS.”