Victor EzejaThe Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it has set up a high-powered committee to review the high costs of air tickets for airlines operating in Nigeria, especially on international routes.
Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, in a video message posted on NCAA’s official X handle on Monday said the agency has met with airlines, other agencies, and stakeholders regarding the development and is trying to make sure that the airfares are brought down.
Najomo said the committee will look into all issues and see how it can reduce the cost for travellers.
He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Captain Chris Najomo the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). It has come to the notice of this authority about the increase and high costs of airfares, especially on international travels,” Najomo said.
“NCCA in the view of trying to make sure that these airfares are brought down, have decided to set up a high-powered Committee, which will look at all the variances and how we can bring down these airfares down.
“We’ve met with the airlines and other stakeholders, and other agencies. We’ll make sure that this is done,” the NCAA DG added.
Nigerian air travellers have in recent times been besieged with high costs of air tickets for both domestic and international destinations.
Aviation experts have at different times cited reasons behind the high cost of airfares in the country. Some said it is due to the high exchange rate between the naira and dollar, coupled with the inability of the airlines, especially foreign ones to repatriate their funds in dollars due to unavailability in the official exchange windows.
Others say there are high charges and taxes imposed on the airlines by the agencies and firms offering them services which contribute to the high cost of tickets.
READ ALSO: How Nigeria Can Curb High Airfares On International Routes
Reacting to NCAA DG’s statement an X user, Chubie Ujah, said the best way to reduce the cost of air tickets is to cut taxes: “Start by making a tax cut. The taxes on air tickets are too high, way higher than the actual cost of the flight.”
Spokesman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, had in a statement on Friday, said the prevailing situation in the country’s aviation sector has forced the airlines to review the cost of domestic travel.
Okonkwo, who is the chairman of United Nigeria Airline, said the decision was because of the volatility in foreign exchange rates and aviation fuel which has surged to N1300 per litre from N700 it was sold previously.
“We are making losses on factors that are beyond our control. We are not only faced with the problem of scarcity of dollars; even the aviation ecosystem is feeling the heat. Handling companies have increased the cost of their services, airports have increased their charges and those that service the aircraft have also increased the cost of their services. The monies for these payments are coming from the passengers who are already exhausted financially,” Okonkwo said, adding that some airlines are about to close down due to the harsh business environment.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
