
The Director General of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Umar Farouk, has called for an urgent review of the long-standing ₦11,000 air navigation fee charged per domestic flight, declaring it unsustainable under current economic conditions.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ summit organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Farouk said the flat rate, which has remained unchanged since 2008, no longer reflects the true cost of managing air traffic in Nigeria’s increasingly sophisticated airspace.
“As far back as 2008, NAMA began charging ₦11,000 per flight not per passenger regardless of route. For example, a full flight from Lagos to Abuja pays us just ₦11,000,” Farouk explained. “Meanwhile, passengers now pay anywhere between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000 per ticket, yet we are stuck with the same outdated fee.”
Modernisation Without Matching Revenue
Farouk highlighted the agency’s substantial investments in cutting-edge navigation, surveillance, and communication systems, stating that NAMA must recover costs to continue ensuring safe and efficient flight operations.
“We’ve made massive investments to modernise our systems — from advanced landing aids to real-time surveillance equipment — to keep pace with global aviation standards,” he said. “Despite that, we’re still being paid peanuts. This has to change.”
He stressed that NAMA operates under a cost recovery model, not as a charity, and warned that continued underpayment from airlines could ultimately compromise safety.
“Let’s be clear: we are not a profit-making body, but we must at least recover what we spend to maintain service quality and safety. The airlines have been adjusting their prices to reflect economic realities — we must be allowed to do the same.”
Airlines ‘Not Being Fair’ — NAMA DG
Farouk expressed frustration at the resistance from airline operators, revealing that multiple attempts had been made to engage with them on the issue with little success.
“We’ve tried to initiate dialogue with the airlines, to sit and reason together. Unfortunately, they haven’t been fair to us. While they factor in economic realities when pricing their tickets, they expect us to operate on outdated charges.”
“We buy from the same markets. Our equipment is expensive. We are asking for fair value, nothing more just enough to maintain safe skies for all.”
Earlier at the summit, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Garba, described the forum as a crucial step toward transforming Nigeria’s aviation industry. He was represented by the Committee’s Deputy Chairman, Festus Akingbaso.
“This retreat is part of a larger mission to strengthen aviation safety, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure compliance with global best practices,” Akingbaso said.
The summit, themed “Emerging Trends in Global Aviation: Sustainability, Technology and Digital Transformation,” brought together policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to explore reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s airspace management and flight operations.