Airline chiefs demand Tinubu review aviation taxes, back SA boycott over xenophobia
Airline Operators of Nigeria, led by Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema, urged President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent committee reviewing aviation taxes and charges, citing the 5% NCAA passenger service fee as unsustainable and contributing to airline collapses. Onyema made the call during an Arise Television interview Tuesday, noting that when airlines charge ₦100,000, NCAA takes ₦5,000 despite not setting up the business.
The AON VP argued these excessive levies have forced carriers to rely on bank loans amid soaring fuel costs, urging Tinubu to create a review committee with independent professionals, technocrats, aviation experts and industry operators. He stressed these taxes have caused the demise of many Nigerian airlines, referencing the 11 domestic operators previously placed on NCAA's "no-pay-no-service" list over unpaid obligations - enforcement of which was suspended due to operational cost concerns.
Beyond aviation, Onyema advocated for a non-violent economic boycott of South Africa over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, rejecting violent reprisals against South African businesses in Nigeria where many Nigerians have investments. He urged Nigerians to withhold investment and patronage from South Africa as a more effective response than street protests, while cautioning against harming South African-owned companies operating locally where Nigerians are shareholders.
Will Nigerians support an economic boycott of South Africa over xenophobia, or prefer diplomatic channels to protect citizens abroad while maintaining local business ties?