The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has mandated a new $11.5 security levy on all international passengers arriving in or departing from the country, effective December 1, 2025.
Dubbed the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) charge, the fee aims to bolster border security but has already drawn fire from airlines and travelers who decry it as yet another burden on an already strained aviation sector.
The levy, detailed in a circular sent to airlines by the NCAA, will be collected at the point of sale on every ticket issued from the implementation date onward.
It targets inbound and outbound international flights operated by both foreign and Nigerian carriers, funding a 20-year rollout of a "single window" digital platform for passenger data sharing among airport agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
This system promises to streamline pre-arrival clearances, enhance threat detection, and improve overall operational efficiency at Nigeria's busiest gateways like Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
"APIS will collect and process passenger data before arrival or departure, revolutionizing security and coordination," the NCAA stated in its memo, emphasizing the partnership with NIS to create a more robust border control framework.
Airlines have been ordered to integrate the charge into their ticketing and reservation systems immediately, with invoicing kicking off for all relevant tickets.
Exemptions offer some relief: Infants, diplomats, on-duty airline crew, transit or transfer passengers within 24 hours, and those involuntarily rerouted due to technical glitches or weather disruptions will dodge the fee, potentially sparing about 10% of travelers.
However, for the average business executive jetting to London or the family heading home from New York, the extra cost could add up quickly, especially atop existing fees like the $20 security levy (in place since 2010) and charges from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The announcement has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Industry insiders, speaking to local media, blasted the levy as "injurious" to passenger volumes and airline viability.
A country manager for a regional carrier lamented that Nigeria's cumulative taxes already rank among Africa's highest and the world's priciest per the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
"They promised the $20 security fee would last just five years post-2010's underwear bomber scare, but here we are in 2025 still paying it," the executive told THISDAY.
At a recent webinar on taxation's toll on the sector, Overland Airways' Managing Director, Captain Edward Boyo, warned that such "excessive levies risk stifling an industry central to Nigeria's economic growth."
With air travel rebounding post-pandemic, the new charge could deter tourism, expatriate relocations, and vital business ties, particularly amid regional instability and global economic headwinds.
Consumer advocates are mobilizing too. The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has vowed to monitor implementation, urging transparency on how funds will be disbursed to avoid the opacity that has plagued past levies.
