Nigeria’s struggling airline operators have turned to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for urgent relief from what they describe as a financially crippling five percent Ticket Sales Charge. Dr Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO of Air Peace Limited and Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, made the appeal at the 30th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents held recently in Lagos.
The current system requires airlines to remit five percent of every flight ticket cost to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. Onyema argues this percentage-based model is adding unbearable pressure to an already distressed industry. He’s proposing a simpler solution: a fixed flat-rate fee per ticket that would make payments more predictable and ease the financial strain.
Why does this matter so much? The aviation sector has witnessed numerous carrier failures over the years, and operators believe a fairer tax regime could reduce what Onyema called the “high mortality rate of Nigerian carriers.” A more balanced approach, he suggested, would protect airlines, aviation agencies, and passengers simultaneously.
The AON Vice President expressed confidence that direct engagement with President Tinubu could spark a “revolution” in the industry. He cited the president’s track record of listening to indigenous businesses and acting on policy concerns when presented with concrete evidence of their impact.
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