National News
ECOWAS Member States Asked to Eliminate Taxes on Air Travel to Develop Aviation Industry

ECOWAS Member States Asked to Eliminate Taxes on Air Travel to Develop Aviation Industry
By: Michael Mike
Member states of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been asked to adopt a new regional strategy of elimination of all taxes on air travel in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The advice was given by a committee of aviation experts at the Sixth Legislature Delocalised Meeting of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources of ECOWAS Parliament held in Lomé, Togo.
It also proposes a 25% reduction in airport passenger service and security charges, effective from January 1, 2026, following consultations with airport and civil aviation authorities.
The committee emphasized that savings from these measures must be reflected in ticket pricing structures, urging airlines to pass on the benefits to consumers. Airports, meanwhile, are encouraged to adopt business-friendly practices to improve efficiency, cut costs, and grow non-aeronautical revenue streams.
An oversight committee is expected to be established by June 2025 to monitor implementation, while the full proposal awaits formal endorsement by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in the coming months.
According to the report submitted for review by the consultant, the regional organs must ensure that airports embrace business practices that will enable them to cover the 25% reduction.
Director for Transport at the ECOWAS Commission, Chris Appiah, while speaking with journalists, highlighted the transformative potential of the policy. He noted that canceling certain taxes and reducing charges by 25% could stimulate air travel demand in the sub-region by up to 40%.
He said: “We’ve conducted comprehensive studies and found that ECOWAS airports charge significantly more than their counterparts elsewhere in Africa—up to 103% more in passenger service charges and 53% more in security charges.”
He explained that the policy aims to remove taxes that are non-compliant with ICAO standards, such as security and tourism levies, and ensure transparent pricing structures. “You don’t tax air transport to promote tourism—it defeats the purpose,” he added.
The origins of the policy date back to a 2014 summit of ECOWAS Heads of State in Abuja, where leaders recognized the economic implications of exorbitant airfares and tasked the Commission with developing a solution. Working with global and regional partners, including IATA, AFRAA, AFCAC, and the African Union. ECOWAS crafted a harmonized strategy to align with international best practices.
Appiah revealed that simulations show air traffic in the region could surge by over 40% within a year of implementing the proposed changes, potentially generating over $500 million in additional revenue. “Reducing charges will not reduce revenue; rather, it will increase it by stimulating demand,” he said.
He pointed out that the top-performing airports and airlines in Africa—mostly from North, East, and Southern Africa—operate under zero-tax regimes on air transport services. In contrast, ECOWAS airports lag behind, with only Lagos and Accra featuring in the top 10 busiest intra-African routes.
Implementation, however, rests with individual member states. “ECOWAS will lead coordination, but each government must engage its finance ministries and parliaments to remove the identified taxes and reduce charges,” Appiah emphasized.
The strategy also includes a push for better collaboration among airlines through code-sharing and joint ventures. This would allow passengers to travel across the region using multiple carriers under a single ticket, reducing operational costs and boosting efficiency.
“For instance, Air Peace could partner with ASKY or Air Côte d’Ivoire to serve regional routes more cost-effectively,” said Appiah. “This is standard practice in global aviation and can help reduce fares significantly.”
He further stressed the importance of private sector leadership in the air transport industry. “Government-run airlines often suffer from inefficiency and bureaucracy. The best results come when the public sector creates an enabling environment, and the private sector handles operations.”
Citing successful models like Ethiopian Airlines, Appiah said even state-owned carriers must operate independently of government bureaucracy to thrive. “What we need is a performance-driven approach, whether through national, regional, or continental airlines,” he concluded.
With all member states signed onto the ICAO conventions, ECOWAS believes the time is ripe to align regional air transport policies with global best practices, unlocking the full potential of West African skies for business, tourism, and integration.
ECOWAS Member States Asked to Eliminate Taxes on Air Travel to Develop Aviation Industry
National News
NAF airstrikes neutralise bandit hideout in Chikun in Kaduna

NAF airstrikes neutralise bandit hideout in Chikun in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft have carried out a precision strike on a notorious bandit hideout in Kunti, within Sohon Gaya community of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Zagazola learnt that the operation followed credible intelligence reports of heightened bandit activities in the axis, with the criminals reportedly wielding sophisticated weapons, including assault rifles and heavy-calibre arms.
Sources confirmed that at about 1200hrs, two NAF helicopters were sighted conducting the successful strike on the location, which had been a source of terror to the surrounding communities.
In the aftermath of the air interdiction, friendly ground troops arrived the target area in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to secure the location, assess battle damage and mop up fleeing elements of the bandits.
The timely synergy between air and ground components ensured effective neutralisation of the threats while also restoring confidence among residents of Sohon Gaya community.
NAF airstrikes neutralise bandit hideout in Chikun in Kaduna
National News
Hilda Baci Concludes GWR Jollof Rice Attempt, Awaits Confirmation

Hilda Baci Concludes GWR Jollof Rice Attempt, Awaits Confirmation
By Halima Abdulkadiri
Celebrity chef Hilda Baci on Saturday successfully wrapped up her ambitious bid to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the largest pot of jollof rice.
The reports gathered that Baci cooked approximately 200 bags of rice in a massive 22,619-litre pot, which measured six metres in both width and height. The cooking process lasted about nine hours.
She now awaits official confirmation from Guinness World Records on whether her feat will be certified as a new world record.
National News
Bold Strategy to Revolutionize Women’s Health Launched

Bold Strategy to Revolutionize Women’s Health Launched
By: Michael Mike
A bold, data-driven, tech-enabled, and financially intelligent strategy designed to revolutionize women’s health across Nigeria has been launched.
The project RenewHER (Renew Health Equity and Reform) is a Presidential Women’s Health Transformation Initiative, led by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health (OSSAP-WH) and championed by Dr. Adanna Steinacker.
The launching was held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja on Thursday evening with the Vice President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu.

At the Gala, the Women’s Health Digital Media and Communications Hub, a national advocacy and story telling platform was unveiled, which is dedicated to amplifying women’s voices, spotlighting innovations, and driving conversations across six national priority areas: Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Sexual and Reproductive Health; Adolescent Health and Menstrual Equity; Nutrition and Preventive Care; Healthcare Workforce and Access; and Coalition Building.
The evening also featured a Presidential Keynote Address, the premiere of the RenewHER campaign film, a cultural showcase, the Health Innovator Awards and a National Pledge Moment to mobilize long-term support for the initiative.
Speaking on the project, the SSA to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinacker, said: “RenewHER is more than an initiative, it is a national call to action to redefine the future of women’s health and economic equity in Nigeria. Through the Women’s Health Nigeria Hub and Magazine, we a creating a movement that transforms policy, empowers communities, and inspires a new generation of champions for women’s health.”
Key strategic partners of the initiative include the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), and the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN), all supporting RenewHER to deliver measurable health outcomes, while creating economic opportunities for women through financial incentives, digital wallets, microgrants, skills training, and women-led health innovations.
Bold Strategy to Revolutionize Women’s Health Launched
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