The 30th Annual Conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) has placed one of the most pressing questions confronting Nigeria’s aviation industry firmly in the national spotlight:
How can government generate sustainable revenue from aviation without creating financial pressures that undermine the survival, competitiveness and growth of airlines?
The conference, held on September 10, 2026, at Providence Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, was themed “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth.” It brought together policymakers, regulators, airline executives, airport managers, financial institutions, aviation professionals and other stakeholders across the industry.
The significance of the gathering was also reflected in the event backdrop, which featured major players and institutions across Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, including FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT, SAHCO, NAHCO, Air Peace, Arik Air, Ibom Air, United Nigeria Airlines, Overland Airways, Enugu Air, Ethiopian Airlines, UBA, Dangote, MMA2 and other stakeholders.
A conference that moved beyond ceremony
The 30th edition came at a particularly important moment for Nigerian aviation, with airlines facing rising operating costs, aviation fuel pressures, foreign-exchange challenges, aircraft acquisition and maintenance costs, infrastructure concerns and multiple taxes, fees and regulatory charges.
One of the strongest issues to emerge from the conference was the demand for a review of Nigeria’s aviation charges.
Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace and Vice Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), said Nigerian airlines currently contend with about 54 different aviation charges, arguing that the burden has become a major obstacle to the profitability and competitiveness of domestic carriers.
The debate also focused heavily on the controversial 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).
United Nigeria Airlines Executive Chairman Prof. Obiora Okonkwo challenged claims that airlines simply refused to meet their TSC obligations, saying operators had been working under repayment arrangements with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority before labour disputes disrupted the process.
These positions reveal the central policy dilemma facing the sector: aviation agencies need reliable revenue to maintain regulation, safety and infrastructure, while airlines need an affordable operating environment to remain viable and competitive.
Why the LAAC Conference matters
For three decades, LAAC’s annual conference has provided a platform where aviation journalism intersects with policy, regulation and industry practice.
The 30th edition was particularly significant because it did not merely examine the challenges confronting airlines. It sought to stimulate conversations around practical policy solutions, investment, infrastructure development, operational efficiency and the long-term competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The conference also featured the unveiling of the second edition of LAAC’s Champions of Aviation publication, documenting contributions and achievements across Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The bigger question for Nigeria
The message emerging from the conference is clear: Nigeria cannot build a globally competitive aviation industry by treating revenue generation and industry growth as mutually exclusive objectives.
Government revenue is important. But so are affordable airfares, airline profitability, passenger connectivity, investment, airport development, cargo growth, tourism, aircraft maintenance and the development of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capacity.
The challenge, therefore, is to create a regulatory and fiscal framework where government earns sustainable revenue while aviation businesses remain sufficiently strong to invest, employ people, expand routes and compete internationally.
That is the conversation Nigeria’s aviation industry must continue.
The 30th LAAC Annual Conference has opened the debate. The real test will be whether the ideas generated translate into measurable policy reforms and a more sustainable aviation ecosystem.
Source: Reports by Channels Television, BusinessDay, The Guardian, Tribune, Blueprint, Nairametrics and other aviation publications reviewed in preparing this post.
