In a move to ease the burden of high air travel costs across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a policy to abolish all air transport taxes.
The bloc, which disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said it will reduce passenger and security charges by 25 per cent, effective from January 1, 2026.
The decision, made at the bloc’s December 2024 summit in Abuja, comes amid mounting frustration in Nigeria, where the Senate has condemned recent domestic airfare hikes as “unacceptable and exploitative”.
The regional reform aims to address longstanding complaints that excessive taxes and fees have hindered tourism, trade, and the free movement of people and goods within the 15-member community.
The ECOWAS Commission confirmed the measures in a statement on 10 December, describing them as a response to concerns over the region’s prohibitive flying costs.
“From 1 January 2026, all ECOWAS Member States will abolish air transport taxes and reduce passenger and security charges by 25 per cent, in line with a Supplementary Act on Aviation Charges, Taxes and Fees.
“The decision responds to long-standing concerns about the high cost of flying in West Africa, which has constrained tourism, trade, and the free movement of persons and goods,” the statement read.
Adopted by heads of state and government, the policy builds on earlier initiatives like the 1999 Yamoussoukro Declaration, which promoted air transport liberalisation.
Implementation will be overseen by the ECOWAS Commission through a new Regional Air Transport Economic Oversight Mechanism, with expectations of lower airfares, boosted passenger traffic, and enhanced viability for regional airlines.
The reforms align with guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which discourage taxes that drain revenue from the sector. Sources indicate that taxes and charges in West Africa can comprise up to 50 per cent of ticket prices, far exceeding global averages.
The ECOWAS announcement follows intense domestic scrutiny in Nigeria, where lawmakers have decried a surge in airfares that has rendered flights unaffordable for many.
On December 9, the Senate summoned Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, along with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and airline operators, to explain the increases during an emergency meeting.
Senators expressed unified outrage over prices on key routes, such as Abuja to Lagos, which now range from ₦400,000 to ₦650,000 for a one-way ticket.
(Channels TV)
