‘18 taxes on one ticket’ — United Nigeria chairman says airfares will drop if taxes reduce

Obiorah Okonkwo, executive chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, has called on the national assembly to reduce the multiple taxation plaguing domestic airlines.

Speaking at the inauguration of commercial operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Airport, Okonkwo said the number of taxes imposed on airlines is a key driver of high airfares in the country.

He said reducing the taxes would make flight tickets more affordable for Nigerians.

“I know some people might be complaining about the cost of the ticket. My first advice is that buy your ticket very early. If you buy your ticket early enough, you will get lower rates,” the chairman said.

“The other thing is to help us pray that with the help of the national assembly, which the leader is already working on and the rest of his colleagues, that the government will be able to look into multiple taxations that are plaguing the airline industry.

“We are taxed about 18 taxes on one single ticket. So any ticket you buy, maybe 70 percent of them goes to other government agencies. If the national assembly will help us reduce these things, which are legislative in nature, we will be able to reduce also the cost of ticket so that it should be affordable to all.”

The senate had summoned Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, and key industry stakeholders for an urgent meeting over the sharp rise in domestic airfares.

The resolution followed a motion raised by Abdulfatai Buhari, senator representing Oyo north, who warned that the escalating prices threaten national mobility and could disrupt travel ahead of the festive season.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Keyamo blamed the current high airfares on domestic routes on aircraft scarcity, and insufficient maintenance infrastructure.

Also, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it will prohibit air ticket taxes to reduce airfares in all airports across the subregion from January 2026.

ECOWAS said the decision aims to make air travel more affordable and deepen subregional economic integration, noting that high airfares are largely driven by government taxes and aviation charges.