Nigerian Travellers to Pay Additional $11.5 Security Charge from December 1

Nigerian international travellers will begin paying an extra $11.50 on each flight ticket starting December 1, 2025, as part of a new Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) levy introduced by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The new charge increases Nigeria’s existing security levy to $31.50 per ticket and is projected to generate about $46 million (₦69 billion) annually for the NCAA.

According to the regulatory agency, the new levy will enhance border control, improve passenger data tracking, and establish a unified data-sharing system among airport security agencies. The NCAA noted that the initiative aligns with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and is intended to run for 20 years.

In a notice to airlines, the NCAA explained that the $11.50 APIS fee will apply to all tickets issued for passengers arriving in or departing from Nigeria. Airlines are required to update their ticketing systems accordingly and remit payments directly to the NCAA.

> “The APIS charge will be collected at the point of sale and remitted by the lifting airline,” the memo read. “Invoicing will begin on December 1, 2025, for tickets issued for travel to and from Nigeria.”



The APIS initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and aims to streamline passenger clearance by processing data before travellers arrive at Nigerian airports.

However, the new fee has sparked widespread criticism among industry experts and passengers who view it as another layer of multiple taxation in the aviation sector.

Tax Burden Among the Highest in Africa

A breakdown shows that Nigerian travellers currently pay around $150 per international ticket in various levies and taxes, including:

$20 security levy,

5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC),

$80–$100 Passenger Service Charge (PSC) to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) depending on the traveller’s nationality.


According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Nigerian passengers already pay 264% more in taxes and charges than travellers in other African countries, making the country one of the most expensive aviation markets in the world.

IATA also noted that while more than 90 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, and Germany, require airlines to submit passenger data before arrival, most do not impose additional fees on passengers for this service.

Industry Concerns

Aviation analyst Chris Amokwu warned that the growing number of levies could discourage air travel and weaken Nigeria’s aviation competitiveness.

> “The government still sees aviation as a luxury rather than an economic driver,” he said. “High taxes and multiple levies make flying unaffordable for many Nigerians and push travellers to use airports in neighbouring countries.”



A source from a foreign airline operating in Nigeria echoed similar concerns, stating that the new levy would worsen the economic burden on both airlines and passengers.

> “Many Nigerians already travel by road to Ghana or Benin Republic to catch cheaper flights. This new charge will only make things worse,” the source said.



Security Experts Raise Doubts

Retired Group Captain John Ojikutu, an aviation security expert, questioned the need for the new levy, arguing that passengers already pay a $20 security charge for the same purpose.

> “This is another form of multiple taxation,” Ojikutu said. “If the new APIS levy is meant to replace the old one, the NCAA should be transparent about it.”


Revenue Expectations

The NCAA’s 2024 report shows a total of 4.1 million inbound and outbound passengers, indicating that the new levy could generate approximately $46 million yearly. However, since the levy excludes infants, diplomats, airline crew on duty, and passengers on involuntary rerouting, the actual revenue may be slightly lower.

When contacted, NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu said the agency would provide further clarification next week, while IATA’s West and Central Africa Manager, Dr. Samson Fatokun, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, IATA’s Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al Alwadhi, recently described Nigeria as having “the highest airport charges in Africa,” naming Abuja and Lagos airports as the most expensive on the continent.

As the December 1 deadline approaches, travellers and airlines brace for yet another increase in the cost of international travel from Nigeria.