The President National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, NANTA , Dr. Yinka Folami has emphasized the need to move away from speculation and towards clarity, particularly from a practitioner and consumer-facing perspective.
Speaking during his engagement on the ongoing discussions on domestic airfares on Mainland FM, the President of NANTA explained that the body’s position is informed by professional training and decades of experience in ticketing operations and airfare construction. Dr. stated that as the recognized downstream trade body, NANTA’s contributions are based on practice, not conjecture.
The President corrected the misinformation surrounding the origins of the recent public debate. He stated clearly that the assertion which triggered the current conversation did not originate from Dr. Allen Onyema, noting that Dr. Onyema later responded to the issue but was not the source of the claim being debated. He cautioned against personalising the issue, stressing that doing so would distract from the real matter requiring examination.
The President structured the discussion around two distinct but related issues:
- Are Government Taxes Responsible for Seasonal Fare Increases : On this point, he stated clearly that government taxes are not responsible for seasonal fare hikes.
He explained further that: “Government taxes do not change between June and December.
Yet fares rise significantly during peak seasons such as December.
For example, routes that cost between ₦145,000–₦155,000 mid-year for a one-way ticket often rise to ₦250,000–₦350,000 in December.
These same fares (for one-way tickets) typically drop again to ₦125,000–₦145,000 by January or February”.
From this, he concluded that seasonal price increases are driven by market and operational factors, such as demand patterns and load management, rather than changes in government taxes.
On the assertion of “18 Government Taxes” on bags Domestic Tickets, Folami noted that the claim that there are 18 government taxes on every domestic ticket is new to NANTA, despite the Association’s 50 years of continuous industry experience.
He was careful not to dismiss the claim outright, but emphasized that:
It is unfamiliar to the trade as practitioners.
He stated that because of its significance and source, it deserves proper inquiry and deconstruction, rather than acceptance or rejection through speculation.
He said NANTA supports calls for this assertion to be examined transparently by relevant authorities.
The President stressed that the objective of the engagement was to end speculation, not fuel it.
He encouraged stakeholders to: Deconstruct claims methodically.
Examine ticket components based on professional standards.
Avoid turning a technical issue into a personality-driven debate.
On practitioner Insight on Ticket Construction, Folami
drawing from industry training and experience, outlined what practitioners typically observe when examining domestic tickets:
NG – Government sales tax
QT – Airport tax
NUC – Basic airline fare (covering airline costs and margins)
YQ/YR – Surcharges often described as emergency or security-related.
He noted that, in practice, YQ/YR components frequently account for a disproportionately large share of the ticket price, sometimes significantly exceeding both government taxes and the airline’s basic fare.
To illustrate the concern, the President referenced a sample domestic ticket where:
Total fare: ₦360,000
Airport Tax: ₦9,000
Government sales tax: ₦16,700
Basic airline fare: ₦46,300
YQ/YR surcharge: ₦288,000
He stated that such a structure raises legitimate questions around pricing arbitrariness and transparency, particularly given the original intent of YQ/YR charges as emergency-related measures.
Throughout the conversation, the President reiterated NANTA’s strong support for local airline operators and the importance of protecting domestic aviation. However, he emphasized that this support must be balanced with a responsibility to the Nigerian traveling public, ensuring fairness, clarity, and consumer confidence.
The President concluded by reaffirming NANTA’s readiness to engage constructively with government, airlines, and the legislature to: Deconstruct contentious claims.
Provide practitioner-led insight. Promote transparency in pricing.
Support an aviation ecosystem that is both industry-sustainable and consumer-sensitive
