According to a recent report by the African Airlines Association, air travelers in Nigeria pay three times more in taxes than air passengers in other African countries.
- Nigerian air travelers face significantly higher taxes, averaging $180 per foreign departure compared to the African average of $68.
- Countries such as Gabon, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria have the highest aviation taxes, while others like Libya and Malawi have the lowest.
- High operational costs make flights within Africa from Nigeria more expensive than some flights to Europe.
According to the survey titled AFRAA Taxes and Charges Study Review 2024, Nigerians pay an average of $180 each per foreign departure, which is almost three times the continental average of $68.
Gabon is the most expensive country in terms of net taxes, levies, and fees, followed by Sierra Leone and Nigeria, the report revealed.
The list also includes Niger, Benin, and Ghana. Libya, Malawi, Lesotho, and Algeria are the least expensive countries for international departure taxes.
Flying from Nigeria to other African nations is more expensive than flying to some European locations due to high operating costs, according to Dr. Kingsley Nwokoma, President of the Association of Foreign Airlines’ Representatives in Nigeria, as seen in the Punch newspaper.
Nigeria’s aviation problems
The Nigerian government has admitted to some of the problems and is still working to find a long-term fix.
The most recent of these was the clearing of a backlog of about $900 million in foreign airline receipts that had been held up by a lack of foreign exchange.
In the past, this problem led to airlines raising prices for flights to Nigeria.
Airlines have since been advised by authorities to modify their ticket pricing to reflect the improved circumstances.
The cracks in Nigeria’s aviation industry go beyond just expensive flight deposits. Currently, Nigeria ranks among the African countries without a national airline.
Despite boasting Africa’s largest population, a sizable market, and enormous potential, the West African country does not operate has failed to properly operate its own national airline.
Nigeria Airways proudly flew the flag from 1958 to 2003. It featured everything from Airbus A310s to Boeing 737s and 747s. However, the airline was permanently grounded following decades of financial difficulties.
Nigeria has made numerous attempts to establish a new national carrier since then, but for some reason or the other, has always come up short.
There have reportedly been at least eleven attempts to establish the country’s very own national carrier.
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Nigeria Air, the most recent, even went so far as to reveal its aircraft and branding.
However, similar to its predecessors, the project has been delayed due to a complex web of political bickering and public skepticism.
