Rwanda’s President, Former Nigeria’s President Frown At Air Transport’s High Costs In Africa
His Excellency, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo have called on Africa’s air transport leaders and stakeholders to reduce charges, taxes and costs so as to enable more air travel and enhance connectivity across the continent.
Speaking at the just concluded African Air Transport & Convention Expo held in Lome, Togo, June 15 to June 19th, 2026, Kagame said financing air transport infrastructure and investment alone is not enough to improve air connectivity.
“We must address the bottomline problems. Taxes and charges imposed on air travel across Africa remain among the highest in the world, raising ticket prices and limiting passenger growth.” Reducing those costs, he said, is essential if the continent hopes to expand air travel and improve competitiveness.
Citing Rwanda as an example, Kagame said the country’s visa-on-arrival policy for all Africans and other travellers is part of how to remove barriers and stimulate economic activity. He called for greater regulatory alignment among African countries, stating that flying within African cities should not require leaving Africa.
In his remarks, Nigeria’s former President Obasanjo said “we must lower the cost of air travel in Africa. Taxes, charges, and fees that make air tickets unaffordable are not revenue strategies; they are barriers to growth. A passenger who cannot afford to fly generates no tax, no trade, no tourism, and no opportunity. Governments should reconsider the overall cost burden on African aviation.”
He added that “Africa needs decisions that cut costs, open routes, connect capitals, move cargo, boost tourism, support airlines, protect consumers, and ensure our continent functions as one economic area.”
