The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has dismissed claims that high domestic airfares are a result of multiple taxes imposed on airlines, insisting that such allegations are unfounded.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Sunday, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said domestic airlines do not pay the numerous levies often cited as the reason for rising ticket prices.
Achimugu explained that repeated claims that the Federal Government imposes excessive taxes on domestic flights are misleading, noting that fare increases are largely driven by market forces of demand and supply.
Resharing excerpts from a past interview, he stated, “Any domestic carrier operating domestic flights that says that they are paying 18 taxes is a liar. No domestic carrier pays 18 taxes for domestic flights.”
According to the NCAA spokesman, the authority has consistently clarified the actual charges applicable to domestic operations, stressing that the narrative of excessive taxation does not reflect the realities of the aviation sector.
He urged stakeholders and the flying public to rely on verified information, adding that while the aviation industry faces operational challenges, multiple taxation is not responsible for the current domestic airfare levels.
