The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced a new $11.50 levy on all international air tickets, set to take effect in December 2025. Classified as the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) fee, it will be added to the existing $20 security charge, bringing the total security-related ticket costs to $31.50 per passenger. Officials say the revenue, projected to exceed $1 billion over 20 years, will fund aviation security and passenger profiling improvements across Nigerian airports.
While the NCAA defends the move as aligning with global security standards, airline operators and passengers are expressing alarm. Nigeria already ranks as the third most expensive country in Africa for air travel fees, according to the African Airline Association, and industry insiders say the new levy could make international flights prohibitively expensive amid rising inflation and volatile foreign exchange rates.
Airline executives argue that the APIS fee represents yet another layer of taxation on carriers. Alex Nwuba, President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, called the fee “another blow to travellers and Nigeria’s already burdened aviation sector.” He highlighted the range of existing levies, including ticket sales charges, passenger service fees, and airport development levies, warning that adding the APIS fee could discourage tourism and hinder business travel.
Foreign airlines are also pushing back. Kingsley Nwokeoma, President of the Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives in Nigeria, described the APIS charge as “unnecessary,” emphasizing that many countries absorb the costs of passenger information systems rather than passing them to travellers. Experts fear that the 20-year duration of the fee could deter international visitors, reduce airline competitiveness, and push passengers to neighbouring countries with cheaper flights.
With roughly 4.3 million international passengers in 2024, the NCAA could generate an estimated $49.45 million annually once the levy is enforced. Yet, aviation veterans such as Capt John Ojikutu and Capt Muhammed Badamosi are questioning the need for the additional fee, arguing that transparency and justification are essential. Meanwhile, efforts to reach NCAA officials for comment were unsuccessful, leaving airlines and passengers uncertain about the long-term impact of the policy.
Source: punch