President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 30 per cent waiver on outstanding statutory fees owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies, in a move to ease financial pressure caused by rising Jet A1 fuel prices.
The decision follows concerns within the aviation sector, as airlines threatened to suspend operations due to increasing operational costs. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had earlier hinted at the intervention after meeting with the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, the waiver covers accumulated debts, including parking charges owed to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and navigational fees payable to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, among other regulatory obligations.
Moshood stated that the intervention is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to cushion the impact of the ongoing Jet A1 fuel crisis, which has significantly increased expenses for domestic carriers.
Keyamo further disclosed that the directive was officially communicated through the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, highlighting the administration’s commitment to sustaining airline operations and ensuring stability in the aviation industry.
In a related development, Nigeria recorded a significant milestone with a 91.45 per cent Effective Implementation score in a recent audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conducted at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority headquarters in Abuja.
The score, the highest ever achieved by Nigeria, surpasses both the West African regional average of 61.1 per cent and the global average of 70.4 per cent, strengthening the country’s reputation in aviation safety compliance.
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Experts say the improved rating is expected to boost investor confidence, enhance Nigeria’s global aviation credibility, and attract more international partnerships and investments into the sector.
The debt waiver and improved safety rating signal renewed efforts by the Federal Government to stabilise Nigeria’s aviation sector and support its long-term growth.
