News

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

Published

3 months 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

Out-of-school: Bauchi Education Ministry Takes ‘Back To School’ Campaign To Markets

Published

7 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi State Ministry of Education has launched a sensitization campaign on the importance of education across selected market places in the state.

The campaign aims to encourage school enrolment and showcase the infrastructural facilities provided by the Bauchi state government to ensure a conducive environment for learning and teaching in the state.

Speaking during the flag off of the campaign at Gadan-Maiwa Community, Dr. Mohammed Lawal, the state’s Commissioner for Education, emphasized that the marketplaces are ideal locations to promote education, as it is a hub of activity where people gather to buy and sell.

He highlighted the various infrastructural facilities provided by the government, which he said included the mega schools, provision of qualified teachers, and educational materials to woo parents to enroll their wards into school.

The Commissioner noted that the state has made significant progress in reducing the number of out-of-school children.

Lawal stated that the government has implemented a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme to support the education of girl children, which he said, has recorded significant success.

He therefore urged parents to take advantage of the government’s efforts and send their children to school.

The commissioner also commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his commitment to education and reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.

On their part, the village head of Gadan-Maiwa, Safiyanu Ahmed, and the Chairman of Gadan-Maiwa motor Park, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, lauded the government’s initiative and urged parents to support the effort.

The duo also appealed for more teachers to be employed to improve education in the state.

News

How My Fiancée kept Me From Temptations – Singer Spyro

Published

13 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

Nigerian singer, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, popularly known as Spyro, has revealed that his fiancée, Janet Atom, keeps him him grounded and away from temptations.

The ‘Who’s Your Guy’ crooner shared that before meeting his fiancée he was “tempted” by ladies, especially in Lekki.

Hailing his fiancée as his “Jesus baddie,” he appreciated her for changing his life.

The singer captioned a picture of his fiancée via Instagram; “Eiii God! My very own Jesus baddie @_callme_njure.

“Thank you again for saving me from Lekki girls o, na me know wettin my eyes see.”

Recall that Spyro recently engaged Janet Atom. He disclosed that he met her at a nightclub while announcing their engagement in September.

News

Drama In Abuja Hotel As BBNaija Star, Phyna Creates Scene Over alleged N200,000 Dispute [VIDEO]

Published

13 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

Former Big Brother Naija winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, was reportedly involved in a heated altercation at a hotel in Abuja following an alleged N200,000 disagreement.

According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation began in the early hours of Tuesday inside Phyna’s hotel room in Abuja, before spilling into the lobby, attracting the attention of guests and staff.

Sources claimed the dispute stemmed from an unsettled financial issue involving N200,000, which quickly escalated into a shouting match.

The argument reportedly intensified when neither party was willing to back down, leading to pushing and chaos within the hotel premises.

Eyewitnesses further alleged that the situation worsened after others connected to the individuals involved joined the confrontation, turning the verbal exchange into a physical clash.

Security personnel and police officers were eventually called in to restore order, using teargas to disperse the crowd.

The incident comes shortly after Phyna returned to the public eye following a brief break to mourn the death of her sister, who died in an accident involving a Dangote truck.

Watch video:

https://x.com/i/status/1978198954014629890