By Kenneth Ehigiator

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday summoned the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, and debtor airline operators for interrogation over the N5 billion owed the Federal Government through airport charges.

The operators had refused to pay to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, and NCAA charges collected on their behalf, despite several appeals by the Ministry of Aviation.

It was learnt that airlines summoned by the EFCC include Arik Air, Allied Air (cargo), Top Brass and Associated Airlines, both charter operators.

Vanguard gathered yesterday that EFCC’s intervention on the matter followed Federal Government’s resolve to recover all debts owed by airlines and other airport users.

Investigations revealed that airlines owed the agencies over N5 billion arising from un-remitted five per cent ticket and cargo charge over the years.

Airlines collect ticket sales charge, which is factored into the fares paid by passengers, but withhold such charges, instead of remitting same to the regulatory agency.

A source told Vanguard yesterday that the anti-graft agency summoned both  airlines and the Director-General of the NCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, and top officials of the regulatory agency to explain why the debts had remained unsettled.

Sources disclosed that the financial crimes agency had to step in due to the refusal of the affected airlines’ to remit the five per cent tax collected on behalf of the agencies at the point of purchase of tickets and payment of airway bills by passengers and shippers of air cargo.