Nigerian Airlines Urge FG to Review 54 Charges for Survival

On Thursday, airline operators in Nigeria, represented by Mr. Allen Onyema, Vice Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, called on the federal government to review 54 different charges that airlines currently pay. Speaking at the 30th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, Onyema stated that these charges are among the highest globally, creating significant barriers to the growth and sustainability of airline businesses in Nigeria.

He emphasized that these charges hinder the profitability and competitiveness of Nigerian carriers both domestically and internationally. Onyema referenced a treaty signed by the Nigerian president on behalf of ECOWAS, which called for a 25% reduction in taxes across West Africa, noting that this has yet to be implemented.

He expressed optimism that a meeting with President Bola Tinubu could lead to a transformative change in the airline industry, highlighting the president's support for indigenous businesses.