The Federal Government is moving to ease mounting pressure on Nigeria’s aviation sector, as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved measures to reduce the financial burden on domestic airlines.
Speaking in Abuja during a high-level meeting with airline operators, regulators, and government officials, Keyamo revealed that the administration is considering debt relief for airlines owing aviation agencies, a move seen as part of broader efforts to stabilize the struggling sector.
The intervention comes after the Airline Operators of Nigeria raised an alarm over surging operational costs, particularly the rising price of Jet A1 fuel, and warned of possible service suspension and higher ticket fares.
According to Keyamo, President Tinubu has directed affected airlines to formally present requests for debt relief, with the scale of support to be determined after review.
The minister said the move reflects the government’s determination to prevent a deeper crisis in the aviation industry, especially after concerns that worsening costs could disrupt domestic air travel.
Beyond debt relief, Keyamo also announced that the President has approved the creation of a committee to review multiple taxes, levies, and charges imposed on domestic airlines, which long have been identified by operators as a major strain on the industry.
The committee is expected to recommend reforms that could reduce airlines’ operating costs and, in turn, help bring down fares for passengers.
The development is being viewed as a significant response to longstanding sectoral concerns, in which operators have repeatedly complained about heavy charges, foreign exchange pressures, maintenance costs, and volatile fuel prices.
Keyamo said the government moved quickly after the airlines’ warning because allowing the situation to escalate could have triggered serious disruptions nationwide.
For many operators, the prospect of debt relief and tax reforms could offer badly needed breathing room at a time when several airlines are battling sustainability concerns.
The planned intervention also aligns with broader efforts by the Tinubu administration to ease pressure in critical sectors of the economy while pursuing reforms.
With airlines now expected to submit their requests and the new committee set to begin work, attention will turn to whether the measures can deliver meaningful relief and help restore confidence in Nigeria’s domestic aviation market.
