The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Air Transport Economic Oversight Committee to address high aviation taxes, charges and fees, while coordinating Nigeria’s implementation of an ECOWAS regional aviation policy.
The committee was inaugurated at the headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja, with the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Najomo, saying it would serve as Nigeria’s primary coordinating platform for implementing the regional policy and monitoring compliance.
The committee is expected to assess Nigeria’s level of compliance with the ECOWAS policy, identify implementation gaps, recommend necessary policy adjustments and monitor progress towards meeting the country’s regional obligations.
It will also develop an implementation roadmap, review relevant legislative and regulatory measures, and work towards ensuring that the provisions of the regional agreement are incorporated into Nigeria’s aviation regulatory framework.
The move follows the adoption of an ECOWAS Supplementary Act on aviation charges, taxes and fees. The policy seeks to make air travel more affordable across West Africa by eliminating certain taxes and reducing selected passenger and security charges by 25 per cent.
The regional reforms were designed to reduce the cost of air travel, improve transparency in aviation charges and promote fair competition among airlines operating within the ECOWAS region.
Nigeria has faced concerns over the high cost of aviation taxes and charges, with industry stakeholders arguing that multiple levies contribute significantly to expensive airfares and affect passenger demand.
The committee will therefore work with relevant stakeholders, including domestic airline operators and the International Air Transport Association, to develop practical measures for implementing the ECOWAS requirements.
Najomo said the committee’s work would go beyond monitoring compliance, stressing the need to translate the regional agreement into practical and measurable actions within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The government is expected to review existing laws and regulations as part of the process, with the aim of aligning Nigeria’s aviation charges with the ECOWAS framework and improving the overall competitiveness of the sector.