The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to stop its planned 800% hike in navigation charges for airlines. This decision was shared by Abdullahi Musa, NAMA’s spokesperson, on Monday.

NAMA had announced on Friday that it would raise its navigation charges by 800%, causing concern among passengers and aviation stakeholders. The agency’s Managing Director, Farouk Umar, explained at the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents Annual Conference in Lagos that these charges are essential for maintaining and managing the airspace.

Umar mentioned that the new en-route charge was set to increase from N2,000 to N18,000 per flight, and the terminal navigation charge for domestic airlines would rise from N6,000 to N54,000 per flight starting September 1, 2024.

However, Festus Keyamo overruled this decision, considering the current economic hardships faced by Nigerians. The minister stressed the need for further discussions before any changes are made, emphasizing sensitivity to the financial struggles of the people.