30% Statutory Fee Discount to Support Domestic Airlines – Keyamo

By Dickson Omobola

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, announced that the Federal Government will give domestic airline operators a 30 percent reduction in statutory fees. The move is intended to lower operating costs in the aviation sector, particularly across Africa.

Keyamo urged African leaders to move beyond policy statements and implement reforms that directly benefit airlines and passengers. He highlighted the need for concrete actions to unlock the continent’s aviation potential.

The Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, reported that Keyamo made the remarks at the recently concluded African Air Transport Expo 2026, organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in Lomé, Togo.

According to the statement, the minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to easing the financial burden on airlines and passengers, describing aviation as a strategic economic enabler rather than a source of excessive government revenue.

Quoting him, the statement said: “Aviation is an economic enabler, not a revenue collection point. Nigeria is aggressively driving down costs through a 30 per cent discount on statutory fees for domestic operators approved by Mr. President, transitioning towards VAT neutrality, and auditing duplicate levies.”

Keyamo also stressed that the era of merely signing agreements must give way to practical measures that ensure unrestricted air connectivity across the continent. He added that enhanced market access is essential for achieving the African Union’s vision of a connected continent, noting that seamless air transport would boost trade, tourism, investment and regional integration.

The statement quoted the minister: “We must move from signatures to actual traffic rights. Over the next 24 months, Nigeria will streamline permits for African carriers, align air agreements, and lead the Banjul Accord Group, BAG, to progressively treat West Africa as a unified domestic market.”

“The real test of our success is no longer how many declarations we adopt, but how many African routes we open, how many restrictions we remove, and how many passengers actually benefit.”

The Minister further challenged African governments and industry stakeholders to focus on measurable outcomes rather than declarations and communiqués.

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