The Vice President of the Airlines Operators of Nigeria and Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to establish a committee to review taxes and charges in the aviation sector, warning that excessive levies have contributed to the collapse of several Nigerian airlines.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Monday, Onyema described some of the charges imposed on airlines as burdensome and unsustainable, particularly the five per cent passenger service charge collected by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Onyema said, “One of the truths we want to tell Mr President is regarding this five per cent passenger charge collected by the NCAA. When we speak, they will say passengers are the ones paying, but we refuse to accept that. If I charge N100,000, NCAA takes five per cent of that money. We did not set up the business with them.”
He urged the President to set up an independent aviation taxes and charges review committee comprising technocrats, aviation experts and industry operators. “We want the President to set up an aviation charges and taxes review committee. It is very important so that it doesn’t look like we are fooling the government.
“The President should select these people, who should comprise independent professionals, technocrats, persons with great aviation knowledge and some of us from the business. These taxes and charges have been responsible for the demise of many airlines in the country,” he said.
Beyond aviation, Onyema also called on Nigerians to adopt an economic boycott of South Africa in response to recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
While backing calls for consequences against South Africa, he rejected violence or reprisals against South African businesses operating in Nigeria. “I totally agree that there should be a stop to foolishness,” Onyema said, accusing South African authorities of failing to adequately protect foreigners during outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
“Every time they do this, and they get the support of their government, I don’t understand how all of a sudden South Africa lacks a police force, lacks the military, lacks every security agency that could have stopped these people.”
The Air Peace chairman condemned incidents in which foreigners were allegedly profiled and harassed. “How do you explain a situation where people would march into somebody’s house, bring you out, question you, ‘Can I see your papers? You’re a foreigner, you have to go back home?’”
According to him, many Nigerians living in South Africa have become employers and investors who contribute significantly to the country’s economy. Onyema asked, “What have they done? The shops they are running, what kind of employment did you provide for him to run a shop?
“He brought money from Nigeria and opened a shop in your country to help your country and help you. The best you could have done is to learn from these Nigerians and acquire some entrepreneurial skills.”
Despite his criticism, Onyema cautioned against targeting South African-owned businesses in Nigeria, noting that many Nigerians hold investments in such companies.
“I don’t want Nigeria to close down MTN or other companies. Don’t Nigerians have shares in those companies? After all, those people are Nigerians too. I don’t want that,” he said.
Instead, he advocated a coordinated economic response, urging Nigerians to withhold investment and patronage from South Africa. “The kind of retaliation I want is for Nigerians to boycott South Africa. Do you know what it means? Boycott South Africa. Don’t invest in that country,” he said.
According to Onyema, withdrawing financial support would send a stronger message than street protests or violence.
Reiterating his position, he added: “Boycott South Africa. If you decide to go against me, the only thing I can do to you is withdraw my support from you. I don’t have to support you to use it to finish me. That’s the kind of retaliation I want. That is the most powerful.
“If they want to invest in our country, let them bring their money and invest. And determine how they take the money back. That is non-violent action.”