New Levy to Push Up Cost of International Travel for Nigerians

Nigeria’s inbound and outbound air passengers will pay an additional $11.50 security levy beginning December 1, 2025, under a new tax regime introduced by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The charge, tied to the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), will raise the total security levy per international flight ticket to $31.50. Industry estimates suggest the levy could generate about $46 million annually for the NCAA over the next 20 years, during which it is expected to remain in effect.

In a notice to airlines, the NCAA stated that the APIS is designed to enhance border control and facilitate a “single-window” clearance system for airport agencies by collecting and processing passenger data before arrival. The system is being deployed in partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

According to the directive, the fee will be added at the point of ticket purchase, and airlines operating in and out of Nigeria will be responsible for remitting payments to the regulator.

Officials maintain the levy aligns with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. It will, however, be separate from the current $20 security charge introduced in 2010 following the attempted 2009 Christmas Day bombing.

Infants, diplomats, airline crew on duty, transit passengers remaining in Nigeria for under 24 hours, and travellers diverted for technical or weather reasons will be exempt. These groups account for approximately 10 percent of international passengers.

Industry checks show that an average international traveller from Nigeria already pays around $150 in taxes, fees, and charges. Of these, FAAN collects $80–$100 as Passenger Service Charge (PSC), depending on passenger nationality, while the NCAA collects five per cent Ticket Sales Charge and other fees on behalf of multiple aviation agencies.

The additional APIS levy has triggered confusion over whether it duplicates the existing $20 security charge. Stakeholders have long questioned the value delivered from those fees, noting limited improvements to aviation security infrastructure despite 15 years of collections.

Aviation experts warn that rising charges are hurting passenger traffic and increasing ticket prices, already driven up by economic hardship and the naira’s weakened value. Some Nigerians now travel by road to neighbouring countries to catch cheaper international flights.

One foreign airline official questioned the rationale for passing APIS costs to passengers, noting many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, operate APIS at no extra cost to travellers.

Former aviation security chief Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) described the new levy as “multiple taxation”, insisting it would only be justified if the old $20 charge is scrapped.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has repeatedly criticised Nigeria for imposing the highest aviation charges in Africa, describing the system as a barrier to growth in a country with the continent’s largest population and strong travel demand.

NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu said further details on the levy would be provided later.