The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has revealed that the controversial $11.50 charge scheduled to begin on December 1 was introduced by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), even though it was announced and is set to be enforced by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The association described the new levy as an added burden on an already fragile aviation sector, warning that operators are being overwhelmed by multiple charges—even when the costs are eventually passed on to passengers.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, AON spokesperson and Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, expressed strong concern over what he called the “growing and unsustainable” number of fees imposed on domestic airlines.
Okonkwo argued that the latest charge is unnecessary and harmful to the stability of the industry. According to him, airlines are already struggling under heavy financial pressure due to numerous taxes, levies, and regulatory fees from different government agencies.
He noted that operators essentially fund all services provided by aviation agencies, insisting that the new $11.50 fee is yet another example of inconsistent policies and poor coordination across government institutions.
Highlighting the impact of growing taxes, Okonkwo said, “Aviation has turned into an elephant where lots of people are feeding on, and the operators are the ones doing the job. First, it was $20 for security, and one wonders what security they provided. The $11.50 is coming from immigration, and we already have the $20 for security.”
He went on to question how the security-related funds have been used over the years. According to him, “This money was collected for many years. It was when a subsequent government came in, and the minister discovered that there was money in there and embarked on some innovation. If you collect what is supposed to be for security and put corporate service or renovation or staff welfare, or any other thing, that is clearly collecting money under a pretense! That is dubious.”
Okonkwo warned that these mounting charges will inevitably push ticket prices higher and make Nigeria less competitive as an aviation hub in the region.
He also questioned the justification offered for the new levy, saying, “This $11.50 is from immigration. They said there is a need for passenger profiling, and it applies to international passengers, which means that before passengers land, they already capture their data. My question is, is that amount commensurate with what other people charge elsewhere? How does immigration play a security role?”
The AON spokesperson appealed to the government to address the concerns of airlines, noting that a thriving aviation sector benefits the entire country. He previously urged the Federal Government to provide single-digit interest loans to operators, stressing that no nation can thrive economically without a strong transportation backbone.
He added that President Bola Tinubu’s target of building a $1 trillion economy would be impossible without significant investment and support for aviation. “A $1trn economy can never be achieved without aviation. What we are asking for is a single-digit interest because we are competing with international airlines that have access to credit facilities and also have government backing,” he said.
Attempts to get clarification from the NIS were unsuccessful. The service’s national spokesperson, Akinsola Akinlabi, promised to revert but did not do so before press time, and several follow-up calls were not answered.
