As part of efforts to avert the shutdown of flight operations by domestic airlines operators, President Bola Tinubu has approved waivers for airlines for the debts owed aviation agencies.
Recall that domestic airlines had earlier threatened to suspend operations starting from ,April 20, 2026, over the soaring cost of aviation fuel also known as Jet A1 fuel, a situation the airlines blamed on oil marketers.
However, the shutdown plan was later halted following the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo’s intervention.
The President intervention came on the heels of an emergency meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, airline operators, and regulators.
At the meeting, stakeholders described the situation as critical, with rising fuel costs pushing airline operations to the brink.
Briefing journalists shortly after the meeting on Wednesday evening, Keyamo said he had earlier met with the President, who directed that a formal request be submitted immediately to address the situation.
According to him, Tinubu has agreed to grant airlines a discount on debts owed to aviation agencies, including the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
According to Keyamo, ” The President specifically asked that we bring the request to him first thing tomorrow and assured that he will personally determine the level of discount.”
The President, the Minister said expressed concern over the crisis and commended airline operators for not increasing ticket prices despite mounting operational costs.
Keyamo said that as part of broader interventions, Tinubu directed that a committee be constituted to review multiple taxes, levies, and fees imposed on domestic air travel.
The Minister informed that the committee is expected to recommend reductions or removals of certain charges to ease the burden on both operators and passengers.
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