The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has halted its proposed 800% hike in navigation charges following instructions from Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
This was revealed in a statement issued by NAMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa, on Monday. Last Friday, NAMA announced its plan to significantly raise navigation fees, causing an uproar among passengers and aviation stakeholders.
Speaking at the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents Annual Conference in Lagos, NAMA’s Managing Director, Farouk Umar, emphasized that the agency depends on statutory fees to manage Nigeria’s airspace effectively.
Umar elaborated that the proposed fee increase was crucial for sustaining operations and ensuring the safety and efficiency of airspace management. The proposed adjustment would raise the en-route unit rate/minimum charge to N18,000 from N2,000 per flight, and the terminal navigation charge for domestic airlines to N54,000 from N6,000 per flight, starting September 1, 2024.
However, Keyamo overruled these plans. NAMA’s spokesperson stated that the minister’s directive to suspend the fee hike was due to the current economic difficulties faced by Nigerians.
Musa explained that the decision underscores the minister’s awareness of the financial hardships affecting citizens. The minister emphasized the necessity of further consultations before implementing such changes, stressing the importance of considering the economic struggles of Nigerians.
Part of the statement reads, “ “The Nigerian Airspace Management agency would continue to engage the airlines, who have been responding to the prevailing economic situation since 2008 without taking NAMA into consideration, which is supposed to be a cost recovery agency in line with global practices.
“The minister’s directive and the suspension of the planned fee increase highlight the government’s dedication to addressing the concerns of Nigerian citizens and aviation sector stakeholders. The suspension reflects the government’s responsiveness to public concerns and its commitment to balancing economic sustainability with the welfare of its citizens.”
