The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has refuted claims by the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, that heavy taxes imposed by the government are responsible for the increase in domestic airfares.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection,
Michael Achimugu, said in a statement posted on X on Sunday that repeated
allegations of excessive taxation on domestic flights are untrue.
His response followed Onyema’s comments during an interview
on Arise Television, where the airline boss blamed high airfares on multiple
taxes, warning that fares could rise further if the country’s new tax laws are
implemented from January.
According to Onyema, the introduction of the new tax regime
could push airfares even higher.
Reacting, Achimugu argued that no domestic airline pays 18
different taxes in Nigeria.
“Any domestic carrier operating domestic flights that says
they are paying 18 taxes is a liar. No domestic carrier pays 18 taxes for
domestic flights,” he said.
Achimugu noted that the current high airfares are driven
largely by market forces, particularly demand and supply, questioning why fares
have risen sharply in December.
“We understand that the high airfares this period are down
to market forces, demand and supply. Even if we assume there are 18 taxes and
that those taxes increased recently, why is it different in December?” he
asked.
He added that, given the level of support provided to
domestic airlines by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Aviation and
Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Director General of the NCAA,
Capt. Chris Najomo, there was no justification for repeatedly blaming the
government.
“With the kind of support domestic carriers have received, I
see no reason why the government keeps getting thrown under the bus through
statements like this,” Achimugu said.
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