President Bola Tinubu has approved a 30 per cent cut on unpaid statutory fees owed by local airlines to aviation agencies.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made this known on Friday in Abuja.
In a statement signed by Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, the directive was passed to the ministry through the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Keyamo said the decision is meant to reduce the operational burden facing Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“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), as well as other regulatory obligations.
“This intervention comes as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to cushion the impact of the ongoing Jet A1 fuel crisis, which has significantly increased operating costs for domestic carriers.
“The initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to stabilising the aviation industry, safeguarding airline operations, and ensuring the continued viability of domestic air transport services across the country,” he said.
In another development, Keyamo said Nigeria has achieved a 91.45 per cent aviation safety rating from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), following a recent audit.
He said the audit was carried out at the headquarters of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja.
According to him, the score was announced during a debriefing by the ICAO audit team and represents Nigeria’s highest rating since it began participating in ICAO safety oversight audits.
“This achievement places Nigeria well above both the West African regional average of 61.1 per cent and the global average of 70.4 per cent, reinforcing the country’s standing as a leader in aviation safety compliance.
“The improved rating is expected to significantly enhance investor confidence, strengthen Nigeria’s international aviation credibility, and position the country as a preferred destination for global aviation partnerships and investments.
“The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, is responsible for coordinating global standards in air navigation and ensuring the safe and orderly development of international air transport,” he said.
He added that ICAO assesses member states through its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), measuring how well safety systems are implemented.
“Since the inception of the USOAP in 1999, Nigeria has undergone four comprehensive safety audits, with performance measured through Effective Implementation (EI) scores that reflect the robustness of its aviation safety framework,” he added.
