Fresh concerns have emerged in Nigeria’s aviation sector as industry experts warn that rising airport and ticket charges could further strain already struggling operators.

A former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Grp. Capt. John Ojikutu (retd), cautioned that the introduction of new levies by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria could shorten the lifespan of many aviation companies.

It will be recalled that both operators and stakeholders have been lamenting multiple taxation in the industry, expressing fears that if such continues, the industry may be brought to its knees.

Speaking in Lagos, Ojikutu argued that before imposing additional charges, FAAN must critically evaluate its existing revenue streams from passenger traffic, flight operations and cargo movements across its 22 airports.

“Unless all these are factored rationally into FAAN earnings before new charges are introduced, unnecessary and irrational charges will be shortening the lifespans of many aviation operators,” he said.

He estimated that based on 2024 traffic figures alone, revenue from Passenger Service Charges, aircraft landing and parking fees should not be less than N400bn annually, excluding earnings from cargo terminals, car parks, toll gates, land rentals and airport concessions.

Ojikutu also faulted FAAN’s spending priorities, saying, “Most of the earnings are not used on the critical services in airports, especially the perimeter and security fences.” The FAAN management since 2004 has not been able to separate the security fence from the perimeter fences, as the International Civil Aviation Organization indicated in its 2004 audit report.

“There are no regular checks or reviews on background checks on airport staff, particularly those working in security control areas.”

He described as excessive the recent capital expenditure figures, including N712bn for the reconstruction of MMIA Terminal One and N535bn for the Abuja second runway.

“These capital expenditures are not just a complete waste but fraudulent spending,” he said, questioning the sharp rise from earlier runway estimates.

Ojikutu advocated structural reforms, including concessioning non-aeronautical services, transferring runways and landing aids to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and restructuring FAAN into a holding company model to avoid regulatory overlaps with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

Similarly, the President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, Dr Alex Nwuba, criticised what he described as non-transparent passenger and cargo charges.

He pointed to the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, Value Added Tax on domestic tickets and multiple security and passenger service charges embedded in airfares.

“Although consultations were eventually held on the new cargo charges and the fee was reduced to N15 per kg, the charge still remains arbitrary because no cost study or operational breakdown has been presented to show what specific service the N15 actually pays for,” Nwuba said.

“The argument that the fee has not been increased from the old N7 per kg collected decades ago does not satisfy ICAO’s requirement for cost-relatedness. Historical pricing is not a valid basis for aviation charges. Even with stakeholder engagement, a fee without a transparent cost foundation is treated by ICAO as a tax, not a legitimate service charge,” he added.

Nwuba noted that under ICAO principles, aviation charges must be directly linked to the cost of providing defined services, with transparency and stakeholder consultation.

He referenced a recent resolution by the Economic Community of West African States aimed at reducing non-cost-based aviation charges across the sub-region from January 2026 but expressed doubts about its implementation.

According to him, publishing detailed cost studies and clear service allocations would help restore confidence and ensure that aviation fees reflect service delivery rather than revenue generation.

Skyway Aviation Handling Company has secured the ISO/IEC Information Security Management System certification.

According to the company, the achievement puts the company as the first aviation ground handling company in Nigeria and one of the few in Africa to attain the globally recognised standard.

ISO/IEC 27001:2022, as it is called, is regarded as the international benchmark for information security management. It provides a comprehensive framework for protecting sensitive data, managing cybersecurity risks and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.

In the technology-driven aviation industry, the certification is seen as critical to safeguarding operational systems and customer data. It followed a rigorous audit and compliance assessment conducted by a globally accredited certification body, during which the company met all requirements.

The milestone, SAHCO said, reflects its commitment to cyber resilience, operational excellence and world-class service delivery.

Speaking on the achievement, Executive Director Dr Babatunde Afolabi said information security must be embedded across the organisation.

He said, “Information security is not just an IT function; it is an organisational responsibility.” Every employee plays a role in protecting our systems and customer data.

“Through structured training, strict policies and continuous monitoring, we have built a proactive security culture that supports safe, secure and reliable aviation operations.”

He noted that in aviation ground handling, robust information security is fundamental to business continuity and safety.

“By attaining ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SAHCO has demonstrated industry-leading capability in identifying security risks, implementing preventive controls and maintaining business continuity in the face of evolving cyber threats,” he added.

The certification covers SAHCO’s core operational areas, including cargo handling, customer information management, operational systems and key corporate support services.

Implementation involved extensive risk assessments, deployment of security controls, staff awareness programmes, incident response planning and continuous monitoring aligned with international best practices.

The company said the latest feat adds to its existing certifications, including ISAGO and other regulatory and quality standards, further positioning it as a trailblazer in Africa’s aviation ground handling sector.

“With this milestone, SAHCO becomes part of an elite group of global aviation ground handling service providers operating under internationally certified information security management standards.

“We are setting a new benchmark for excellence in Nigeria and across the African continent,” Afolabi stated.

The President and Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to urgently convene a national retreat to resolve Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis, warning that widespread power outages could undermine the country’s industrialisation drive and economic growth.

Dangote made the appeal at the official national launch of the National Industrial Policy 2025 in Abuja, themed “From Policy to Productivity: Implementing Nigeria’s Industrial Future.”

The policy emerged against the backdrop of a weak manufacturing sector, which, due to poor electricity supply, high production costs, limited access to finance, infrastructure deficits, and heavy reliance on imports, has been constrained.

The event was attended by top government officials, captains of industry, and development partners, with President Bola Tinubu represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima

In his goodwill message, Dangote stressed that without stable electricity, Nigeria would struggle to create jobs, drive industrial productivity, or achieve sustainable economic growth.

“One of the things that I want to advise Your Excellency, Mr Vice President, is to call a national forum where we will have a one- or two-day retreat and resolve the issues of power. Because without power, Mr Vice President, there is no way in any country you can create growth or create jobs. So, power means growth. No power, no growth. So we must make sure that we tackle this issue,” he said.

His comments were greeted with applause from participants, including the Vice President. Dangote noted that while government policies to support industrialisation were commendable, the electricity challenge remained the single most critical constraint to manufacturing and job creation.

“We know what you call industrial policy; it is actually very, very important because the government cannot create jobs. They can only facilitate. And I think they have already given us whatever we need to create jobs. The policies that they have put in place are very good. Nigeria is a very big market. Not only that, this is a market where we are supposed to be serving other African nations,” he added.

However, he stressed that policy incentives alone were insufficient without strong infrastructure and protection of domestic industries.

“But one thing that we need is not only the policy. The policy is there. If you look at the incentives that we have for people to invest in Nigeria, actually, they are even more than what we need. The only thing that is remaining is the protection of industries.”

According to him, excessive importation remained a major threat to local manufacturing. “Even if you give us zero-interest loans, free land and power, if there is no protection, there is no way any industry will thrive here. Importation of anything is importation of poverty and exportation of jobs,” Dangote stated.

The billionaire industrialist lamented that many manufacturers now spend more on power generation than on production due to erratic electricity supply.

“So, people who are buying diesel, I would have loved to sell more diesel, but that is not the right way. The right way is to make sure there is power. Some factories spend more money generating electricity than producing goods. You have to set up your own power plant and also a standby. That does not make sense. There is nowhere you can get prosperity that way,” he added.

Dangote’s remarks came amid a recent five-day power supply disruption linked to gas maintenance activities, which triggered widespread blackouts across several parts of the country and heightened concerns among manufacturers and businesses.

Seven power plants across Nigeria experienced gas supply constraints between February 12 and 15, 2026, as Seplat Energy shut down a major facility for scheduled maintenance, lading to nationwide generation shortfalls.

His comments reflected ongoing concerns in the organised private sector following the recent gas supply maintenance shutdown that affected power generation and led to load shedding across the country.

Stakeholders have repeatedly warned that frequent outages are forcing companies to rely on diesel and alternative energy sources, significantly raising production costs and contributing to inflation.

Dangote also highlighted the dominance of the private sector in Nigeria’s economy, urging stronger collaboration between government and businesses. “Nigeria is the only country in Africa where the private sector is bigger than the government. When you look at GDP, the private sector contributes almost 90 per cent, compared to the government’s 10 per cent,” he said. “We have what it takes to create massive consumption, massive industry, and disposable income.”

He added that entrepreneurs must also support national development by paying taxes and complying with regulations. “When we do our business, we must pay our taxes. It is a joint venture. The government is the major shareholder in every business. Today, the government makes more money in our cement business than anybody. But that is okay, so far they allow us to expand and prosper.”

Dangote further said recent economic reforms had improved investor confidence and currency stability. “With the policies that this government has implemented, people are beginning to see the results. Manufacturers are happy. The stability of the currency is encouraging investors to come into Nigeria,” he said.

He projected that the naira could strengthen further if import dependence is reduced. “We should manufacture what we consume. That is the only way to create jobs. If we block unnecessary imports and support local production, the naira will get stronger,” he said.