The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has dismissed claims that high domestic airfares are caused by multiple government taxes, saying airlines do not pay the number of levies being alleged.
Speaking via a statement shared on X on Sunday, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, described claims that domestic airlines pay up to 18 different taxes as false. According to him, no local airline pays such taxes on domestic flights.
Achimugu explained that the recent increase in ticket prices, especially in December, is mainly driven by demand and supply. He questioned why airfares would suddenly rise if there had been no recent increase in taxes or aviation fuel prices.
He added that the NCAA invited domestic airlines for discussions on the issue, and they all admitted they were not paying the large number of taxes often mentioned in public debates.
While the NCAA does not regulate ticket prices, Achimugu expressed concern that the government continues to be blamed despite the support given to airlines by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, and the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo.
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The clarification comes after comments by Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema, who said airlines lose money on some routes, particularly in the South-East, where return flights are often nearly empty. Onyema argued that a large portion of ticket revenue goes to taxes, levies, and other charges, not the airlines themselves.
Responding, Achimugu questioned how fares could rise as high as ₦500,000 for short flights when there had been no increase in taxes or fuel costs. He maintained that the December price surge affects not just flights but also transport fares, accommodation, and food prices nationwide.
He concluded that the high fares are simply a result of heavy demand during the festive season, stressing that the situation is driven by market forces, not government policy.
