President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 30% relief on statutory fees owed by Nigerian airlines to aviation agencies to cushion the impact of the rising Jet A1 fuel crisis.
The disclosure was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
The move follows earlier indications by the minister during a meeting with airline operators that the Federal Government was considering intervention measures to support struggling domestic carriers.
What they are saying
The relief covers accumulated obligations such as parking charges owed to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), navigational fees payable to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and other regulatory charges.
According to the minister, the intervention is part of broader efforts to stabilise the aviation sector, which has been under severe pressure due to surging Jet A1 prices and rising operational costs.
- “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 30% discount on outstanding statutory fees owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies, in a decisive move aimed at alleviating operational pressures within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
- “The relief covers accumulated debts, including parking charges payable to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), navigational charges owed to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), as well as other regulatory obligations.
- “This intervention comes as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to cushion the impact of the ongoing Jet A1 fuel crisis, which has significantly increased operating costs for domestic carriers.”
The government said the measure is expected to improve liquidity for airlines and reduce the risk of operational disruptions.
Nigeria’s ICAO safety rating hits record high
In a related development, Nigeria has achieved a record 91.45% Effective Implementation (EI) score following an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) conducted at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) headquarters in Abuja.
The score represents the highest rating ever attained by Nigeria under ICAO’s safety oversight audits and places the country well above the West African regional average of 61.1% and the global average of 70.4%.
The milestone is expected to boost investor confidence, strengthen Nigeria’s global aviation standing, and position the country as a more attractive destination for international aviation partnerships and investments.
ICAO, a United Nations specialised agency, is responsible for setting global standards for aviation safety and security, with its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) assessing member states’ compliance with international benchmarks.
Get up to speed
Domestic airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had earlier warned of a possible suspension of operations over soaring Jet A1 prices, which reportedly rose from about N900 per litre in February to over N3,000 by April.
- They described the situation as commercially unsustainable and had threatened to suspend flights on April 20, 2026. The warning triggered emergency government engagements.
- Following the development, Keyamo appealed for the suspension of the planned shutdown, citing risks to the economy and mobility, and confirmed a high-level meeting on April 22, 2026.
At that meeting, he disclosed that the Federal Government was considering debt waivers and tax reliefs for airlines. He also proposed a review of aviation levies and charges, while noting that the President would engage operators on broader sector reforms, including financing and long-term stability.
What you should know
Jet A1 fuel now accounts for over 40% of airline operating costs in Nigeria, compared to about 25% globally, according to industry estimates.
- Operators and experts had earlier warned that supply constraints and rising costs could lead to higher fares, flight disruptions, and reduced airline capacity if unaddressed.
- Beyond fuel, the sector faces heavy tax and levy burdens. From December 1, 2025, an additional $11.5 security charge under the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) pushed total security fees per ticket to $31.50, according to regulatory updates.
Nigeria also generated about $62 million from airline ticket taxes in 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), while AFRAA has ranked the country among those with the highest aviation tax burdens in Africa.
