Former President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Mr. Bankole Bernard, has called for urgent government intervention to address Nigeria’s escalating airfares, stressing that ticket prices will remain painfully high until aviation regulatory charges are reviewed.
Speaking at an end-of-year media chat, Bernard explained that the airfare crisis is driven by basic economics, where demand exceeds supply, but worsened by excessive charges imposed on airlines.
According to him, carriers have limited ability to reduce fares when government levies consume a large portion of ticket revenue.
Airlines Struggle Under Heavy Regulatory Burden
Bernard noted that airlines depend on competitive pricing and high passenger volume to remain profitable, but current fees and taxes imposed by agencies make price reduction nearly impossible.
“If government wants Nigerians to enjoy lower fares, it must first reduce its own charges.”
He emphasized that unless regulatory fees are slashed, Nigerians will continue to face high travel costs regardless of market forces.
Bernard also warned against the proliferation of state-owned airports that generate little or no revenue, describing many of them as political projects rather than viable economic assets.
He urged governments to adopt private-sector management models, arguing that aviation thrives when run as a commercial enterprise rather than a political extension.
Cargo Sector Set for Major Revenue Boost
As Chairman of the Cargo Account Settlement Systems (CASS), Bernard predicted a sharp rise in revenue next year due to the implementation of a Centralised Cargo Accounting System.
The new platform, he said, will enhance accuracy, transparency and global access for Nigeria’s airfreight market.“CASS will transform cargo movement the same way BSP transformed passenger travel globally.”
He added that more airlines are joining the system as confidence grows.
Bernard highlighted the need for state governments developing cargo airports to build adequate processing centres so farmers can export produce efficiently and meet international standards.