The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has defended its proposal to increase tariffs charged on airlines, saying the current rate has been stagnant for over 17 years despite soaring operational costs.

Speaking at a summit organised by lawmakers on Tuesday, NAMA’s Director General, Farouk Umar, revealed that the agency has been charging N11,000 per flight since 2008. He described the rate as unsustainable, given Nigeria’s current economic realities and the high cost of maintaining aviation infrastructure.

“In 2008, NAMA was collecting N11,000 per flight. Since then, ticket prices have skyrocketed, with economy fares now between N150,000 and N200,000, yet we are still charging the same N11,000,” Umar said. “The airlines have not been fair to the agency.”

However, Nigerian airline operators have strongly opposed the planned tariff adjustment. They argue that any increase in NAMA’s charges will inevitably be passed on to passengers, further worsening airfares at a time when many Nigerians are already struggling with the rising cost of travel.

The standoff highlights the tension between sustaining aviation infrastructure and ensuring affordable flight costs for passengers. While NAMA insists a tariff review is long overdue, airlines warn that the move could push air travel further out of reach for the average Nigerian.