18 Charges on One Ticket—United Nigeria Airlines Boss Explains Why Airfares Keep Rising
In a bold and candid disclosure that has reignited debates around Nigeria’s aviation cost crisis, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, says domestic flight tickets will not drop until the federal government and National Assembly slash the 18 different taxes and charges imposed on a single airline ticket.
Okonkwo made the remarks during the inauguration of commercial operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Airport, where he said airlines are “suffocating under the weight of multiple taxation,” a problem he insists is the biggest driver of Nigeria’s soaring airfares.
“WE PAY 18 TAXES ON ONE TICKET” — OKONKWO
The airline chairman, visibly frustrated by the cost environment, stated:
“We are taxed about 18 taxes on one single ticket. Nearly 70% of one ticket goes to government agencies. Reduce these taxes and ticket prices will fall.”
He urged Nigerians to buy tickets early for cheaper fares, but stressed that real, meaningful price relief can only come from legislative intervention.
According to him, the leadership of the National Assembly—already probing the airfare spike—must work with aviation authorities to eliminate redundant or overlapping charges.
SENATE STEPS IN: KEYAMO, AIRLINE BOSSES SUMMONED
The Senate has already summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside major airline operators, for an emergency briefing.
Raising the alarm on the Senate floor, Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North) warned that rising ticket prices could cripple national mobility, especially with the festive season approaching.
Keyamo, speaking to journalists, attributed the fare spike to aircraft scarcity, a weak maintenance ecosystem, and heavy dependence on foreign servicing.
ECOWAS TO SCRAP AIR TICKET TAXES IN 2026
In a landmark move that may force Nigeria and other West African states to rethink aviation taxation, ECOWAS announced that from January 2026, member states will be prohibited from imposing air ticket taxes.
A statement from the subregional bloc said the decision was aimed at:
- Reducing airfares across West Africa
- Deepening economic integration
- Removing price barriers caused by excessive government charges
ECOWAS noted that taxes, not airline greed, are the major reason for high flight costs in the region.
THE TAX BURDEN: WHAT NIGERIANS PAY FOR
Industry insiders say the 18 taxes include:
- Passenger service charges
- Fuel surcharges
- Airport development levies
- Security fees
- Navigational charges
- VAT and other statutory levies
- Local government aviation taxes in some states
Combined, these have pushed domestic ticket prices beyond ₦120,000–₦180,000 even for short-haul routes like Abuja–Lagos.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIANS
The aviation sector carries:
- Over 3 million domestic passengers annually
- A growing number of business and medical travellers
- Eleven million Nigerians who depend on air transport for work, trade, or emergencies
Higher fares mean:
- Reduced economic activity
- Increased travel time
- Decline in business competitiveness
- Risk of pushing more people into unsafe road travel
THE BOTTOM LINE: AIRLINES ARE STRUGGLING TOO
For months, airline operators have warned that:
- Jet A1 fuel (aviation fuel) remains volatile
- High taxes make profitability nearly impossible
- Foreign exchange scarcity hinders aircraft maintenance
- The industry risks collapse without decisive policy changes
Okonkwo’s latest revelation confirms a deeper structural problem: the cost of flying in Nigeria is largely government-induced.
THE WAY FORWARD
Experts say the following reforms are urgent:
- Streamline aviation taxes to no more than 5 mandatory charges
- Implement ECOWAS’s tax reform ahead of January 2026
- Expand local MRO (maintenance) facilities to cut foreign costs
- Reform aviation regulatory pricing models
- Stabilize forex access for airline operations
Prof. Okonkwo insists that without these interventions, rising airfares will remain the norm.
“Reduce the taxes, and Nigerians will immediately feel the difference.”
