The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has refuted claims by the Chief Government Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, that heavy taxes imposed by the federal government are accountable for the rise in home airfares.
The Director of Public Affairs and Client Safety, Michael Achimugu, mentioned in a press release posted on X on Sunday that repeated allegations of extreme taxation on home flights are unfaithful.
His response adopted Onyema’s feedback throughout an interview on Come up Tv, the place the airline boss blamed excessive airfares on a number of taxes, warning that fares might rise additional if the nation’s new tax legal guidelines are carried out from January.
In accordance to Onyema, the introduction of the brand new tax regime might push airfares even greater.
Reacting, Achimugu argued that no home airline pays 18 completely different taxes in Nigeria.
“Any home service working home flights that claims they’re paying 18 taxes is a liar. No home service pays 18 taxes for home flights,” he mentioned.
Achimugu famous that the present excessive airfares are pushed largely by market forces, significantly demand and provide, questioning why fares have risen sharply in December.
“We perceive that the excessive airfares this era are down to market forces, demand and provide. Even when we assume there are 18 taxes and that these taxes elevated not too long ago, why is it completely different in December?” he requested.
He added that, given the extent of assist offered to home airways by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement, Festus Keyamo, and the Director Basic of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, there was no justification for repeatedly blaming the federal government.
“With the sort of assist home carriers have acquired, I see no reason why the federal government retains getting thrown below the bus by statements like this,” Achimugu mentioned.
