The Director-General of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Farouk Umar, has stated that the current N11,000 per-flight charge levied on airline operators is no longer sustainable amid rising costs and the prevailing economic climate.
Umar made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking to stakeholders at a summit organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, themed “Emerging Trends in Global Aviation: Sustainability, Technology and Digital Transformation.”
He noted that the N11,000 fee, unchanged since 2008, is applied per flight rather than per passenger. As an illustration, he pointed out that a Lagos-to-Abuja flight pays only N11,000 to NAMA, regardless of the number of passengers onboard.
“In 2008, NAMA was collecting N11,000 per flight. From then till now, airfares have risen significantly, with economy tickets now ranging between N150,000 and N200,000, yet we are still charging the same N11,000,” Umar said.
He emphasized that NAMA is a cost-recovery agency, not a charity, and must recover the funds invested in procuring and upgrading critical aviation infrastructure, including landing, surveillance, and communication systems.
The agency has made significant investments in state-of-the-art facilities to ensure the safety of Nigerian airspace. These upgrades include modern Instrument Landing Systems, advanced radar surveillance technologies, and enhanced communication networks, bringing Nigeria’s aviation sector in line with global safety standards.
Umar cautioned that the cost of acquiring, installing, and maintaining these systems has risen sharply due to inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and global supply chain challenges.
“We keep modernising to ensure Nigeria is not left behind in global aviation development. Yet, the airlines are still paying us peanuts. The world needs to know, and the airlines need to face reality. We cannot continue this way,” he explained.
Umar noted that NAMA has repeatedly sought to engage airlines on the need to review the fee, but operators have resisted. He argued that such resistance is unjust, particularly as airlines regularly raise ticket prices to account for rising operational costs.
“The airlines have not been fair to the agency. They respond to economic circumstances by raising ticket prices, but they do not want to understand that we also operate in the same economy. We go to the same markets to procure equipment. Safety is at stake if we cannot recover costs,” he said.
He emphasized that the agency’s fees are not intended for profit but are solely for cost recovery, aimed at maintaining safe, reliable, and modern air navigation services.
Meanwhile, in his speech, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, highlighted the importance of collaboration in strengthening the aviation sector.
Represented by his deputy, Festus Akingbaso, Garba described the summit as a crucial step toward reinforcing the sector’s foundation.
“Our goal is to develop actionable plans and reinforce priorities that enhance aviation safety, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance,” he said.
Garba stressed that parliament remains committed to supporting NAMA and other aviation agencies in tackling funding challenges, provided they maintain transparency and operational efficiency.
