British Airways has admitted to tax evasion in Nigeria, marking a turning point in a face-off between Nigeria and the foreign airline which began weeks ago over discriminatory fare charges on the lucrative London-Lagos route.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Aviation that organised an investigative public hearing on the violation of aviation laws by foreign airlines, BA Country Manager Kola Olayinka said: “It is not only BA. No airline, as we speak, is remitting the five per cent charged on airfares to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).”

The airline admitted it had failed to remit the five per cent Passenger Fuel Surcharge (PFS) on tickets to NCAA as required by global aviation practices.

Although the British carrier tried to assure the committee of its preparedness to begin paying the tax, provided the legal requirements were clearly spelt out, the committee threatened to recommend BA for prosecution.

The general manager of Air France-KLM Nigeria, Mr Christian Herpi, had told the same committee that payment of PFS had been a practice by airlines worldwide and was not peculiar to airlines flying from Nigeria.

Mr Uzodinma said: “Refusal to remit taxes is not a civil matter, it is a criminal offence which should be investigated by the appropriate department and we may have to do so.”

“That others are not paying doesn’t make it right. The problem is that the NCAA continues to treat this matter as civil.”
The tax evasion charge is the latest in air commerce war between Nigeria and Britain.

Last month Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Stella Oduah issued a 30-day ultimatum to BA and Virgin Atlantic to review downwards their air fares on Lagos-London route or face a ban

http://www.africareview.com/News/British+Airways+admits+tax+evasion+in+Nigeria/-/979180/1391290/-/3itcrgz/-/index.html

It was the Britons who institutionalized the taxing system world over. You dare not evade tax in Britain. In countries such as the US and Canada it’s considered a crime against the State carrying the full weight of the law. Let’s see how the British Government who always comes to their rescue handles this one.
This action by British Airways is the highest height of double standard, hypocrisy and injustice...lets watch and see how things unfold.

Like Tuface would say, Nothing dey happen. . .

Halliburton that was found guilty of bribery nko?! Wassup with their matter?

na thunder go fire them

tax evasion is a crime and should be treated as such.

i just like d way aviation minister is handling dis british guys,
dey should refund all dee money, eve if our corrupt leaders would squander it,

They should sanction for such act and made to refund the tax money.

Green world! View my profile link.

If it happens in other (developed) countries it is chaos but in Nigeria, it is business as usual! Notin dey happen!

Then what next? We are tired of stories like this.

otokx: Then what next? We are tired of stories like this.

The executive is too weak, that's the problem.

Yes the problems are many and big, but now the NASS is better than the executive.

The executive should brace up and deliver.

I trust Britain. I am sure they wont disappoint. They will surely lead by example by remitting the accumulated mandatory 5% PFS tax since inception to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

I dey laugh like OBJ....Colonial master don chop their subject Mugu...lol...wonders shall never end

Despite the high airfare from this airline yet they refuse to remit tax. What a shame!
The whole Sky team consisting of Air france, delta airlines etc should be looked into and if shady activities are noticed, they should all be sanctioned. Airfares cost soooo much in africa.

This country is in such a big mess. Everybody just dey slash dem own size from naija's cake

Its past 1 month na,whats up with the earlier confrontation or ultimatum issued to BA by the aiation minister?

EzeCanada: It was the Britons who institutionalized the taxing system world over. You dare not evade tax in Britain. In countries such as the US and Canada it’s considered a crime against the State carrying the full weight of the law. Let’s see how the British Government who always comes to their rescue handles this one.
This action by British Airways is the highest height of double standard, hypocrisy and injustice...lets watch and see how things unfold.

I'm with you, bro.

And they keep saying Nigeria is the most corrupt nation,well let's see how the britons handle the mess they just got themselves in

No real surprises here.

British Airways is to pay a reduced £58.5m fine for colluding with rival Virgin Atlantic on fuel surcharges, finally putting to bed an investigation that has lasted more than five years.

-- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9213267/British-Airways-fined-58.5m-for-fuel-price-fixing.html

IN THE late summer of 1990, British Airways held a closed meeting at Gatwick airport. It was the start of a campaign of commercial dirty tricks against their British rivals.
Last night on ITN's News at Ten, the chairman of Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson, claimed that if Lord King and Sir Colin Marshall had been caught doing this in the US they would be behind bars. 'I'm not so sure they shouldn't be put behind bars here,' he added.

-- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/battle-of-the-airlines-how-the-dirty-tricks-campaign-was-run-martyn-gregory-reports-on-bas-dirty-tricks-campaign-which-he-uncovered-as-producerdirector-of-thames-televisions-this-week-programme-1478010.html

British fifil.ola dem i dey crase.well who are we to throw in Jail.the Pilots or the Aircrafts

Incredible

Severe punishment
[img]http://www.spgames.info/g.gif[/img]

Obviously someone in NCAA has long aided this pratice for personal benefit.

Chase them out of our country until they repay every †ЂΞ last kobo they owe. Bloody hypos

^^^^^You mean to have them deported?? that kinda make sense.

Instead of jumbing into the fray...the first question is, if PFS is implimented who would bare the burden, the airline or the nigeria traveller? Answer, the nigerian traveller.
Question 2, has the airline being collecting the this tax and holding back on it? answser no?
Can you evade tax that is not yet built into law? answer no.
IF the PFS comes into effect, what impact will it have on travel fare. answer= more fare increment.

So people, go figure, what's all this noise about. What sinister action of govt is all this public hearing covering

This inquiry has nothing to do with the poor masses....the house members only want to reduce business and first class cabin fare so they can fly more and waste our collective revenue. I thought Yaradu started something with travel restrictions and review for govt pple. why is it suddenly swept under the carpet?

Last month Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Stella Oduah issued a 30-day ultimatum to BA and Virgin Atlantic to review downwards their air fares on Lagos-London route or face a ban

so what happened?