Beginning December 1, 2025, all international passengers flying into or out of Nigeria will be required to pay an additional $11.50 levy per ticket under the newly introduced Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) initiative.
This new charge increases Nigeria’s total aviation security levy to $31.50 and is projected to generate around $46 million annually for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
According to the NCAA, the APIS program is designed to enhance airport security, track passenger information, and streamline border control operations through a single-window digital system expected to run over the next 20 years.
The levy applies to all international airlines, though infants, diplomats, airline crew on duty, and passengers in transit or rerouted due to weather or technical issues are exempted.
However, this new fee comes on top of existing charges, including the $20 security levy, Passenger Service Charge (PSC) of up to $100, and the 5% Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) — pushing up the already high cost of air travel in Nigeria.
Aviation experts have expressed concerns that the additional fee could further inflate airfares, making Nigeria one of the most expensive aviation markets in Africa, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Aviation analyst Chris Amokwu warned that the move would burden travellers and discourage air travel, while Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) described the levy as a form of “multiple taxation” unless the existing $20 security charge is scrapped.
The IATA has repeatedly criticised Nigeria’s high aviation charges, noting that Abuja and Lagos airports are already the costliest in Africa, despite limited improvements in infrastructure and passenger experience.
