The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to address the persistent increase in the cost of airfares. The Acting Director-General of NCAA, Chris Najomo, revealed that a committee has been set up to work on reducing airfares. Najomo stated that the committee aims to examine various factors contributing to high airfares, with the goal of bringing them down.
In a tweet, Najomo said, “It has come to the notice of this authority about the increase and high cost of airfare, especially on international travels. And the NCAA in the view of trying to make sure that these airfares are brought down, have decided to set up a high-powered committee, which will look at all the variances and how we can bring these fares down. We’ve met with the airlines and other stakeholders and other agencies. We will make sure that this is done.”
The move comes amidst efforts by the government to settle repatriation owed to foreign airlines. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria indicated that foreign airlines repatriated N795.48 billion from Nigeria in the first two quarters of 2023. The amount on the debit side of the balance of payments includes spending on tickets by passengers, cargo, and other expenses.
The announcement reflects the authorities’ commitment to addressing concerns related to the aviation sector, particularly the affordability of air travel for passengers. The committee’s task will involve a comprehensive review of the factors influencing airfares and developing strategies to bring down the costs.
