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NAMA pushes for tariff hike, airlines kick

Published

6 months ago

September 17, 2025

The Director-General of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Farouk Umar, has declared that the current charge of N11,000 per flight imposed on airline operators is no longer sustainable, given prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of maintaining aviation infrastructure.

Umar made this known in Abuja on Tuesday while addressing stakeholders at a summit organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation. The event focused on the theme: “Emerging Trends in Global Aviation: Sustainability, Technology and Digital Transformation.”

Umar explained that the N11,000 fee, which has remained unchanged since 2008, is charged per flight rather than per passenger. He cited an example of a Lagos-to-Abuja flight where airlines pay only N11,000 to NAMA, regardless of the number of passengers carried.

“In 2008, NAMA was collecting N11,000 per flight. From then till now, airfares have risen significantly, with economy tickets now ranging between N150,000 and N200,000, yet we are still charging the same N11,000,” Umar said.

He stressed that the agency is a cost recovery organisation, not a charity, and must recoup the money invested in procuring and upgrading critical aviation infrastructure, including landing, surveillance, and communication systems.

NAMA has invested heavily in state-of-the-art facilities to ensure safety in Nigerian airspace. These include upgraded Instrument Landing Systems, modern radar surveillance technologies, and enhanced communication systems that align Nigeria’s aviation sector with global safety standards.

Umar warned that the cost of procuring, installing, and maintaining these facilities has grown exponentially due to inflation, exchange rate pressures, and global supply chain disruptions.

“We keep modernising to ensure Nigeria is not left behind in global aviation development. Yet, the airlines are still paying us peanuts. The world needs to know, and the airlines need to face reality. We cannot continue this way,” he insisted.

Airlines resist

According to Umar, NAMA has made several attempts to engage airlines on the need for a fee review, but operators have resisted the idea. He argued that this resistance is unfair, especially as airlines frequently increase ticket fares to reflect rising operational costs.

“The airlines have not been fair to the agency. They respond to economic circumstances by raising ticket prices, but they do not want to understand that we also operate in the same economy. We go to the same markets to procure equipment. Safety is at stake if we cannot recover costs,” he said.

He emphasised that the agency’s charges are not designed for profit-making but strictly for cost recovery to ensure safe, reliable, and modern air navigation services.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, stressed the importance of collaboration in developing a stronger aviation sector. Represented by his deputy, Festus Akingbaso, Garba described the summit as a critical step toward strengthening the sector’s foundation.

“Our goal is to develop actionable plans and reinforce priorities that enhance aviation safety, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance,” he said. Garba emphasised that parliament remains committed to supporting NAMA and other aviation agencies in addressing funding challenges, provided they can demonstrate transparency and efficiency in their operations.

Nigeria’s aviation sector faces a unique dilemma: airlines struggle with high operational costs, while regulators face shrinking budgets to maintain critical infrastructure. Unlike in many advanced economies, where airspace management agencies charge rates reflective of operational costs, Nigeria’s charges have remained stagnant for 16 years.

For instance, in countries such as the United States, Canada, and across Europe, en-route and terminal navigation charges are pegged to aircraft size, distance covered, and other operational parameters, ensuring that airspace management agencies recover the full cost of services.

By contrast, Nigeria’s flat N11,000 charge per flight severely undercuts the real cost of providing air navigation services. Aviation analysts argue that the disparity not only undermines NAMA’s sustainability but also poses risks to safety if the agency cannot reinvest in its systems.

Airline operators, however, argue that increasing regulatory charges could worsen their already fragile financial situation. With rising fuel costs, foreign exchange shortages, and multiple taxes across different tiers of government, many airlines claim they are operating on thin margins.

Operators fear that higher charges could translate into even higher ticket prices, further burdening Nigerian travelers who already pay some of the highest airfares in Africa. Industry stakeholders therefore call for a balanced approach—one that ensures NAMA recovers its costs without pushing airlines or passengers to breaking point.

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News

Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died

Published

14 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died after battling an illness.

It was reports that the entertainer passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Lagos after reportedly being sick for a long time.

Agboola built a strong reputation in Yoruba broadcasting and comedy.

Over the years, he became popular for programmes that mixed humour with storytelling while also promoting Yoruba culture and traditions.

Many listeners saw him as someone who loved his heritage and proudly represented Ijesa culture through his work.

Following the announcement of his death, many colleagues, friends and fans began sharing messages of condolence on social media.

One of his associates, Idris Shogbola, was among those who first shared the sad news online while mourning the loss of the veteran broadcaster.

“May the soul of our boss rest in peace. Pa Timothy Agboola ‘Ereke ni Shop’. Baba Oloye Repete… A broadcaster, actor, comedian. May God Almighty give you eternal rest in peace. Amen. Ereke ni Shop sun re o,” he wrote.

Agboola gained wide attention through his unique storytelling style and lively comedy.

His radio shows often combined humour with social observations about daily life, which made him popular among many Yoruba listeners.

During his long career in the entertainment industry, he worked with several well-known entertainers, including Baba Alajeju.

Some of his comedy performances date back to the 1970s when he was already becoming known for his lively stage presence.

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I Don’t Leave My House Without Going Through Newspapers – Tinubu

Published

18 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that he is always concerned about the welfare of the masses.

He disclosed that he reads about happenings in the country every morning before leaving home.

Tinubu stated this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said that he was a little bit stubborn at the beginning of his administration.

The president also stated that his administration has opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.

He said, “There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.

“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.

“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.”

Meanwhile, Tinubu has stated that improving Nigeria is a collective responsibility.

He asserted that the country’s development cannot be the sole responsibility of the federal government and urged the media to hold states and local governments accountable.

The President stated this on Friday when he hosted media executives and proprietors at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu cited increased financial autonomy for the lower tiers of government and urged the media to extend the same level of scrutiny they apply to his government to the local and state administrations.

“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hands,” Tinubu said.

“So don’t bombard me alone; look at the local government too. Yes, we can complain it’s not enough; we can complain we are not where we should be. But we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress.

“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay the salaries of employees,” he told the gathering.

“Yes, we can complain that it’s not enough. We can complain we are not where we should be, but we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress,” he added.

The ex-Lagos State governor reiterated his commitment to doing the job with dedication.

“And I promise you, the job that I continue to do is dedication, patriotic dedication to improve Nigeria. It’s all in our hands; it’s a collective responsibility,” he said.

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US Lawmaker, Moore Alleges American University Shooter Met ISIL In Nigeria

Published

18 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has alleged that a shooter who attacked Old Dominion University in Virginia met with members of the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Nigeria before carrying out the incident.

Moore made the allegation on his 𝕏 account on Saturday, in response to the attack.

It was understands that the attacker, Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member and convicted supporter of ISIS, entered a classroom filled with Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students and opened fire.

According to the FBI, the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Arabic for “God is greater”, before shooting at students inside Constant Hall.

The classroom quickly descended into chaos as terrified students scrambled for safety.

However, several ROTC students bravely confronted the gunman and ultimately subdued him, preventing what authorities believe could have been a far deadlier massacre.

Reacting to the development, the lawmaker claimed that the suspect was earlier imprisoned but was released before the attack despite alleged ties to the terrorist group.

“The radical Islamic terrorist who attacked Old Dominion yesterday was let out of prison early despite meeting with ISIL in Nigeria and seeking to aide and abet ISIL in carrying out an attack on our homeland,” Moore said.

The congressman criticised the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release, describing the development as alarming and unacceptable.

“This is insane, and it MUST END! That’s why I’m introducing a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who seeks to commit a terrorist attack or aids and abets terrorism against the American people,” he said.

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