Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced a 30 per cent reduction in statutory fees for domestic airline operators, describing the move as part of efforts to lower operational costs and strengthen the aviation sector across Africa.
Keyamo said the policy is designed to reduce financial pressure on airlines and make air travel more affordable, while repositioning aviation as a driver of economic growth rather than a revenue-generating tool for government.
He made the remarks at the African Air Transport Expo 2026 organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission in Lomé, Togo, where he urged African nations to move beyond policy declarations to concrete implementation of aviation reforms.
According to him, the aviation sector must be treated as a strategic economic enabler capable of boosting trade, tourism, investment and regional integration across the continent.
Keyamo stated that Nigeria is actively pursuing cost reduction measures within the industry, including a 30 per cent statutory fee discount approved by the President, alongside plans to achieve VAT neutrality and eliminate duplicate charges affecting airlines.
“Aviation is an economic enabler, not a revenue collection point,” he said, noting that the reforms are intended to ease pressure on both operators and passengers.
He added that meaningful progress in African aviation will depend on practical actions rather than agreements that remain on paper.
The minister also called for improved air connectivity across the continent, stressing the importance of expanding market access and removing barriers that limit airline operations between African countries.
“We must move from signatures to actual traffic rights,” Keyamo said, adding that Nigeria will work within the next 24 months to streamline permits for African carriers, harmonise bilateral air agreements, and support the Banjul Accord Group in treating West Africa as a more unified aviation market.
He further emphasised that success should be measured by real outcomes such as new routes opened, restrictions removed, and the number of passengers who directly benefit from improved air connectivity.
Keyamo urged African governments and aviation stakeholders to prioritise implementation over communiqués, saying sustainable growth in the sector will depend on tangible reforms that improve efficiency and reduce costs across the board.
