President Bola Tinubu has approved a 30% discount on all outstanding statutory fees owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies, offering immediate relief as Nigeria’s aviation sector grapples with the rising cost of Jet A1 fuel.
The relief covers accumulated debts including parking charges payable to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), navigational charges owed to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and other regulatory obligations that have strained airline operations in recent months.
A statement from the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister, Tunde Moshood, said the move is part of the federal government’s broader plan to cushion the impact of the fuel crisis and keep domestic air transport services running smoothly across the country.
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the presidential directive was formally conveyed through the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. According to Keyamo, the decision underscored the administration’s commitment to stabilising the industry, protecting airline operations, and ensuring the continued viability of local air travel for Nigerian passengers.
The announcement came on the heels of another major win for the sector. Nigeria has just recorded its highest-ever Effective Implementation (EI) score of 91.45% in the latest International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety oversight audit. The result was announced during a debriefing session by the ICAO audit team at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) headquarters in Abuja.
The 91.45% rating is the strongest Nigeria has achieved since it began participating in ICAO’s safety audits, placing the country well above the West African regional average of 61.1% and the global average of 70.4%.
The score signaled Nigeria’s growing leadership in aviation safety compliance and is expected to boost investor confidence while strengthening the country’s credibility on the global aviation stage.
Officials said the improved rating should also open doors for more international partnerships and investments in Nigeria’s aviation space. ICAO, the United Nations agency responsible for setting global air navigation standards, evaluates member states through its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
Since the programme began in 1999, Nigeria has undergone four comprehensive safety audits, with each EI score reflecting how well the country’s safety systems are implemented and maintained.
Together, the debt relief and record safety score mark a turning point for Nigeria’s aviation sector — one that balances immediate economic support for airlines with long-term credibility in global aviation safety.