NAMA Halts Planned Hike in Navigational Charges
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has suspended its planned increase in navigational charges, a decisive move reflecting sensitivity to Nigeria’s prevailing economic conditions.
This decision came in response to a directive from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who stressed the necessity for further consultation before any such changes could be implemented.
The Minister, acknowledging the severe economic challenges facing Nigerians, emphasised the importance of being sensitive to their plight.
“In these trying times, we must consider the impact of any additional financial burden on our citizens,” Keyamo remarked, highlighting the government’s commitment to a consultative approach in policy implementation.
The announcement was made at the recent League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents Annual Conference held in Lagos on July 26, 2024, where Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar, Managing Director and Chief Executive of NAMA, delivered a keynote address.
The conference, themed “Aviation Survivability amidst a Challenging Macro-Economic Environment,” provided a platform for Engr. Farouk to elaborate on the formidable economic pressures faced by the aviation industry.
During his address, Engr. Farouk outlined the various challenges besieging the sector, including global economic volatility, rising fuel prices, and currency instability.
He advocated for strategies aimed at ensuring the industry’s survival and growth, such as enhancing operational efficiency, embracing technological innovations, fortifying infrastructure, and fostering collaborative partnerships.
Engr. Farouk also shed light on NAMA’s financial predicaments, emphasising the agency’s reliance on statutory fees and charges for the effective management of Nigeria’s airspace.
He revealed that NAMA had initially proposed an increase in fees – from a unit rate/minimum charge of 2,000 Naira to 18,000 Naira per flight for en-route services, and from 6,000 Naira to 54,000 Naira per flight for terminal navigation charges (TCN domestic), effective September 1, 2024.
The proposed hikes were intended to ensure the sustainability and safety of Nigeria’s airspace operations. However, the directive from the Minister and the subsequent suspension of the fee increase underscore the government’s responsiveness to the economic conditions and concerns of Nigerian citizens and stakeholders within the aviation sector.
The Minister’s directive and NAMA’s reversal of the proposed increase in fees were conveyed in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa.
The agency affirmed that it will continue to engage with airlines, who have been adjusting to the economic situation since 2008 without factoring in NAMA’s financial sustainability needs.
“NAMA remains committed to its mandate as a cost recovery agency in line with global practices,” the agency stated.
