In a firm call for reform, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mémounatou Ibrahima, has decried the high cost of air travel within West Africa, describing it as a major impediment to economic integration and regional mobility.
Speaking at the opening of a delocalised meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources on Tuesday in Lomé, Togo, Ibrahima warned that the current air transport pricing structure threatens the successful implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocols and the realisation of the region’s 2050 Vision.
The five-day strategic session is themed: “Air Transport as a Means of Integration for West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airline Ticket Costs.” It convened experts and regional leaders to chart a way forward on how to tackle the prohibitive airfares plaguing the region.
“The prohibitive costs of air travel between our countries hinder the free movement of people and compromise our ambitions for regional integration,” Ibrahima said. “Air transport is an essential lever for economic development and sub-regional unity.”
She cited excessive taxes—ranging from landing fees, ticket levies, security surcharges, to non-aviation charges—as the leading drivers of sky-high fares across the region’s airports. These costs, she argued, not only limit mobility but also undercut tourism, trade, and business linkages critical for growth.
Other challenges, according to Ibrahima, include the lack of cooperation among national airlines, outdated airport infrastructure, and the inadequate implementation of continental aviation agreements such as the Yamoussoukro Decision on airspace liberalisation.
“Without affordable and efficient air transport, the ECOWAS Vision 2050 will remain elusive,” she warned.
ECOWAS Airfare Among Highest Globally
Also speaking, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, Sédiko Douka, confirmed that intra-West African airfare ranks among the highest in the world. He said the ECOWAS Commission had been tasked by the Heads of State to harmonise member states’ aviation policies and implement community frameworks to make regional air travel more affordable.
“Implementation of these policies is set to begin on January 1, 2026, allowing member states time to align their budgets and strategies,” Douka announced.
He urged lawmakers to lead the charge in ensuring the full implementation of these community texts, which have already been reviewed and adopted by the member states.
Togo’s National Assembly Backs Reform
In his remarks, Dzereke Yao, Vice President of the Togolese National Assembly, called for urgent action, describing the airfare challenge as paradoxical given the region’s population size, economic potential, and growing youth demographic.
“This paradox must be addressed with strong, pragmatic, and ambitious solutions,” Yao said. “A competitive and open airspace will ultimately benefit every citizen in the region.”
Air Transport as an Economic Catalyst
Experts at the meeting stressed that affordable air transport is vital not just for tourism and mobility but also for connecting markets, expanding trade routes, and cementing cross-border social and cultural ties. Ibrahima emphasized the role of parliamentarians in pushing for sustainable aviation policies and coordinating with national governments to reduce the fiscal burdens on airlines and passengers.
“Our discussions must lead to actionable recommendations, not just resolutions,” she insisted.
As West Africa prepares for deeper economic and political integration under the ECOWAS Vision 2050, stakeholders say the cost of flying between Accra, Abuja, Abidjan, and Banjul can no longer remain a luxury few can afford.
Public Response & Analyst Views
Several civil society voices have echoed the Parliament’s position. Nigerian travel analyst Musa Oyekan said, “It costs more to fly from Lagos to Dakar than to fly from Lagos to London. That’s unacceptable for a region trying to integrate.”
On social media, reactions were swift. Twitter user @AfricaTradeWatch posted: “Fixing West Africa’s air travel is not optional—it’s urgent. We need regional carriers and fewer taxes choking passengers.”
Naija247news will continue to monitor outcomes from the ECOWAS Parliament’s five-day session, where a final communiqué is expected to shape policy direction heading into the January 2026 aviation reform deadline.
—Naija247news.com
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Reporting by Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
