Nigeria Moves to Update Navigational Charges Amid Sector-Wide Calls for Aviation Sustainability
After more than 15 years of static pricing, Nigeria’s aviation industry is at a crossroads as labour unions and regulators demand a critical revision of navigational charges—a shift seen as vital to the nation’s airspace safety and the sustainability of its aviation infrastructure. The debate has reached new intensity with the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), led by Comrade John Ogbe, urging the Federal Government to act decisively in the face of mounting operational costs and outdated tariffs.
At the heart of the issue is the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which has operated under a cost-recovery model reliant solely on fees paid by airlines for air navigation services. With no federal budgetary backing, every radar upgrade, navigation aid, or controller training initiative must be funded from these charges. This model, however, is under immense strain as the cost of technology, skilled manpower, and energy has soared dramatically since the charges were last set in 2008.
Recent financial disclosures reveal the scale of the challenge: in 2023, NAMA spent approximately ₦21 billion on personnel, over ₦12 billion on capital projects, and more than ₦10 billion on overheads. Much of this expenditure is driven by inflation, volatile foreign exchange rates, and skyrocketing fuel prices. For instance, diesel now costs above ₦1,400 per litre, compared to just ₦113 when the current tariffs were introduced. Yet, domestic airlines continue to pay as little as ₦6,000 to ₦11,000 per flight in navigational charges, even as ticket prices for passengers have surged tenfold.
Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, Managing Director of NAMA, called the situation “unsustainable” during a keynote address at the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) conference in Lagos in 2024. He pointed out that while international flights are billed in US dollars, the majority of NAMA’s workload—domestic operations—is charged in naira at rates that no longer reflect economic realities. The agency’s fee for extending airport service hours, set at ₦50,000 per hour, is now dwarfed by the actual cost of fuel and logistics required to keep non-24-hour airports operational.
Faced with these challenges, NAMA has proposed a much-delayed review of its fees and charges. Rather than a revenue-driven move, the agency frames the increase as a “survival measure.” The new structure would see the minimum en-route navigation charge for domestic flights rise to ₦18,000, with terminal navigation charges increasing to ₦54,000 per flight. The cost for extended airport operations is set to jump to ₦450,000 per extension, reflecting the real cost of maintaining operational safety and reliability.
For the industry’s labour representatives, the implications go well beyond fiscal balance. Comrade Ogbe warned that chronic underfunding of air navigation services will ultimately affect safety, as continuous investment in technology, training, and infrastructure is the backbone of safe skies. He argued that world-class safety cannot be guaranteed while operating with tariffs designed for a bygone economic era.
Engr. Umar echoed these concerns, emphasizing that modern airspace management demands constant upgrades to radar, communication, and satellite-based navigation systems. While NAMA’s current systems remain functional, he stressed that sustained investment is non-negotiable for keeping pace with global standards. “Without realistic pricing, the agency cannot ‘breathe,’ let alone innovate,” he remarked, capturing the urgency of the situation.
For Nigeria’s aviation community—including regulators, unions, and operators—the consensus is clear: artificially low charges may offer short-term relief to airlines but risk undermining the very systems that ensure safety and efficiency in the nation’s skies. As rising fuel prices, currency instability, and operational costs reshape the sector, the review of navigational charges stands as a pivotal test of policy resolve and sector resilience.
This moment serves as a wake-up call for African aviation professionals to routinely assess the sustainability of their own operational models, ensuring that investment in safety and technology keeps pace with economic realities and industry growth. The decisions made now will shape the reliability and competitiveness of African airspace for years to come.
