FG Offers Airlines Debt Discounts Amid Fuel Price Surge

The Federal Government of Nigeria has decided to grant airlines a discount on debts owed to aviation agencies as a measure to cushion the impact of escalating aviation fuel prices. This announcement was made by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a closed-door meeting in Abuja with airline operators and other stakeholders.

The meeting included representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Permanent Secretary, Patience Oyekunle, and the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), among others. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier instructed that a formal written request for the discount be submitted promptly.

Keyamo expressed concern over the challenges facing the aviation sector and acknowledged the difficult operating conditions for airlines, urging them not to raise airfares despite these challenges. Additionally, a committee has been set up to address long-standing issues related to taxes and fees on domestic tickets.

The airline operators, represented by Allen Onyema, commended the government's decision and called for a complete waiver of debts during this challenging period.