Politics

Airport Fees: Military and Others Exempt from Tolls and Parking Charges by Law

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 31st, 2024.

Airport Fees: Military and Others Exempt from Tolls and Parking Charges by Law

The Armed Forces Act Cap A20 of 2024 exempts military personnel from paying tolls and parking fees at airports, wharfs, and other facilities, according to information obtained by LEADERSHIP. This Act also waives parking, anchoring, and road or bridge toll fees for armed forces members and their vehicles.

On May 14, 2024, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will now be required to pay airport access tolls and parking fees at all national airports. Keyamo’s announcement followed a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, during which he noted that the government was losing over 82% of potential revenue from e-tags used for airport access.

The FEC, led by President Tinubu, approved a memorandum from the Ministry of Aviation that ended toll exemptions for all Very Important Persons (VIPs) and government officials using airports. Although the memorandum initially recommended exempting the president and vice president, President Tinubu overruled this, insisting that he, the VP, and their aides must also pay the tolls.

However, Part 20 of the Armed Forces Act, titled “General Provisions Privileges and Exemptions for Members of the Forces,” Schedule No. 235 on exemption from tolls, specifies: “Duties or tolls for embarking or disembarking at any port, wharf, quay, or landing place in Nigeria, or for passing over any road, ferry, or bridge in Nigeria, shall not be payable by members of the Armed Forces on duty, or by vehicles in the service of the Armed Forces. This includes vehicles owned by the federal government or operated by individuals in the public service, as well as goods, aircraft, or animals used by the Armed Forces.”

The law further states that “Harbour dues or other charges for entering, leaving, anchoring, or mooring in a harbor or port in Nigeria shall not apply to federal government aircraft, naval ships, or vessels.”

Additionally, the Act stipulates: “No judgment, decree, or order against a member of the Forces by a Nigerian court shall be enforced by executing a levy on public property used by the person for service purposes.”

Legal experts argue that if the law exempts military personnel from paying tolls, it must be upheld. Barrister David Apoka emphasized that government policy cannot override established law. He stated, “If the military laws exempt them from toll fees, that exemption should be respected.”

Similarly, legal practitioner Seidu Muse noted that no institution should be above the law that governs it, insisting that respecting the law is essential for maintaining a lawful society. “Government policy cannot override an established law. If military laws exempt their personnel from toll fees, that law must be respected,” he said.