News

Passengers’ Traffic: Anxiety As local Airlines Raise Alarm Over Consistent Decline

Published

4 weeks ago

July 28, 2025

Consistent decline in domestic passenger traffic is creating anxiety among operators in the country’s air transport sector, with many warning that the recently signed Tax Reform Acts could worsen the situation by 2026.

This came on the heels of a disclosure by Acting Managing Director of Ibom Air, Mr George Uriesi, that domestic passenger traffic between January and July 2025 had dropped by 27 per cent, compared to the same period in 2024.

Given that domestic throughput in 2022 was 16,172,433, which dropped to 15,685,272 in 2023 and 11,549,443 in 2024, operators are worried that the harsh economy and the Tax Reform Acts, which would reintroduce the Value Add ed Tax, VAT, on ticket sales in 2026, could compound the situation.

On June 26, 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed four Tax Reform Bills into law, including the Nigeria Tax Act, NTA, The Nigeria Tax Administration Act, NTAA, Nigeria Revenue Service Act, NRSA, and the Joint Revenue Board Act, JRBA, to take effect on January 1, 2026.

In separate conversations with Vanguard, the operators, however, said reducing fares through promos and cutting down on the multiple taxes which affect the price of tickets were some of the methods through which the market could be stimulated.

Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, said: “Airlines, the aviation industry and the federal government can do something to reverse the situation (decline in passenger load).

‘’First is the general economy of the country that has slowed down. But I believe that with the recent increase in economic activities, business travel will increase.

“For leisure travel and tourism that are declining, it is because the price of tickets has made it a bit difficult for passengers to travel. When they see that it is not a must travel, they decide not to travel.

“But we need to see how we can organically stimulate the market within the space of aviation and the airlines’ ability. How can we do that? Reducing fares through promos. Most importantly, we need to look at the taxes.

“Aviation fuel is fixed, but the multiple taxes contribute a lot to ticket prices. With the recent Tax Reform Acts, which reintroduced VAT, which is 7.5 per cent on ticket sales, it means that from January 2026, there will be a 7.5 per cent increase on the tickets. This will also increase the price of tickets and reduce the number of passengers flying.”

On his part, a Trustee member of Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, Roland Iyayi, fingered the state of the economy as a major reason for the persistent decline in passenger numbers.

He said: “If the economy is buoyant, there will be enough travel, mobility will increase and there will be traffic.

‘’Disposable income, which is also affected by the economy, has also reduced. Inflation has eaten deep into the disposable income of many. Air travel has become a victim of the high level of inflation which we currently have in the country.”

He, however, warned that if taxes were increased on air transportation due to the Tax Reform Acts, airlines would have no choice but to transmit it to customers.

He said: “Invariably, what that does is reduce the number of people who can travel. For every increase in tax, demand is suppressed.”

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

10 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.