Nigerian airlines urge Tinubu to review taxes as costs threaten survival
Nigerian airline operators are pressing President Bola Tinubu to intervene over multiple taxes, regulatory charges and soaring operational costs that threaten the survival of domestic carriers. Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Air Peace Chairman and CEO Allen Onyema said the sector faces high aviation fuel prices, expensive loans and numerous government levies. He noted that more than 70 airlines have collapsed in Nigeria over the years, giving the country one of the world’s highest airline mortality rates.
Onyema singled out the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), arguing that a ₦100,000 ticket yields ₦5,000 to the NCAA while aviation itself rarely delivers a five percent return. He urged the president to create an Aviation Taxes and Charges Review Committee to reassess levies and prevent further collapses.
He warned that airline failures would trigger massive job losses and expose banks that have lent billions to operators to significant financial risk.