30% statutory fee discount to strengthen domestic airlines – Keyamo

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By Dickson Omobola

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Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has said Federal Government’s decision to grant a 30 per cent discount on statutory fees for domestic airline operators is aimed at reducing the cost of operations in the aviation industry, especially in Africa.

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Keyamo, who called for actions to unlock Africa’s aviation potential, said the continent must move beyond policy declarations to tangible implementation of reforms that directly benefit airlines and passengers

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The Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, in a statement, noted that Keyamo said this at the just concluded African Air Transport Expo 2026, organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission, AFCAC, in Lomé, Togo.

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

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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.”

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Keyamo also emphasised that the era of merely signing agreements must give way to practical measures that guarantee unrestricted air connectivity across the continent, adding that enhanced market access remains critical to achieving the African Union’s vision of a connected continent, stressing that seamless air transport would boost trade, tourism, investment and regional integration.

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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.

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“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.”

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

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