The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed ongoing efforts to address the high cost of air tickets for both domestic and international travel while also announcing enhancements in airport safety and security.

Keyamo disclosed this in his remarks at the Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja. Speaking on the issue, he outlined key factors contributing to exorbitant fares, including limited access to affordable aircraft leasing, trapped funds of foreign airlines, and high airport taxes.

Keyamo noted that Nigerian airlines struggle to lease aircraft at competitive rates, forcing them to opt for costly leasing or the outright purchase of aircraft, which ultimately affects ticket prices. He said efforts were also ongoing between the government and foreign airlines to address the cost of airfares.

Keyamo also exposed how foreign airlines had deliberately inflated ticket prices for Nigerian travelers due to uncertainties over when they would be able to repatriate their earnings. According to him, airlines set high ticket prices for Nigerian passengers because they feared currency depreciation would erode the value of their earnings before they could convert them to dollars.