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Airport security fees in Africa

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 10 sources

Short answer

Many African states charge air passengers for security on top of the passenger service charge. Some sit in the ticket. Nigeria's NCAA adds a US$11.5 APIS charge, collected at the point of sale, to a US$20 security charge, as reported by ICIR 2. Others are paid at the airport. The Gambia's US$20 airport security fee is paid at kiosks on arrival and departure, according to UK advice 3. ECOWAS states agreed to cut security charges by 25 percent from 1 January 2026 10.
Nigeria
US$20 security charge plus US$11.5 APIS charge per international ticket, as reported 2
The Gambia
US$20 at kiosks on arrival and on departure 3, plus a £1.50 security charge per departing passenger 4
Sierra Leone
US$25 fee suspended from 6 July 2026, as reported 5
DR Congo
US$30 fee in a Securiport contract, collected by airlines, as reported 7
Cameroon
XAF 10,000 international, XAF 500 domestic, ICAO extract of 2014 8
ECOWAS rule
25 percent cut in security charges from 1 January 2026 10

Two ways security fees are paid

A security charge can be built into the air ticket or paid in cash or by card at the airport. Nigeria's Civil Aviation Act, 2022 says a security surcharge is payable on each passenger ticket for international air travel from Nigeria, at an amount the NCAA sets 1. The money goes to a separate account for aviation security 1.

The Gambia uses a kiosk. UK advice updated on 7 July 2026 says passengers must pay an Airport Security Fee of US$20 when they arrive and when they leave, at marked kiosks at Banjul International Airport 3. It can be paid in US dollars, euros, pounds or dalasi 3. Children aged 1 or under and transit passengers are exempt 3. The Gambia Civil Aviation Authority schedule lists a separate £1.50 security charge for each departing passenger 4.

Security fees by country

CountryChargeAmountHow collectedStatus
Nigeria 2NCAA security charge 2US$20 per inbound and outbound passenger 2On each international ticket under the Act 1Live, as reported 28 October 2025 2
Nigeria 2Advance Passenger Information System charge 2US$11.5 2In the ticket, remitted by the operating airline 2Tickets issued from 1 December 2025 2
The Gambia 3Airport Security Fee 3US$20 on arrival and US$20 on departure 3Kiosks at Banjul airport 3Live, 7 July 2026 3
The Gambia 4Security charge 4£1.50 per departing passenger 4Airport charge schedule 4Undated schedule posted January 2024 4
Sierra Leone 5Airport security fee 5US$25 per international passenger 5Not stated by the source 5Suspended from 6 July 2026 5
DR Congo 7Security fee under Securiport contract 7US$30 per arriving and departing international passenger 7Airlines under the IATA code 7Government statement, 7 November 2025 7
Cameroon 8Security charge 8XAF 10,000 international, XAF 500 domestic 8Payable by the carrier 8ICAO extract, amended 11 April 2014 8

Who keeps the money

In the DR Congo, Ecofin Agency reported that the US$30 fee is in Article 38 of a contract between the government and the US firm Securiport 7. Funds go each month into a joint account, with 85 percent to Securiport and 15 percent to the state 7. The government said the fee is not new and is already in the price of international tickets 7. The same report said airline fare breakdowns showed a security fee of US$43.75 on Qatar Airways, Uganda Airlines and Kenya Airways, US$58 on Ethiopian Airlines and up to US$66 on Air France 7.

In Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Internal Affairs suspended the US$25 fee from 6 July 2026 until further notice as the government reviews the contract, as reported by Ishmael Sallieu Koroma 5. The report said Securiport (SL) Limited holds a government contract for passenger data management 5. The Sun reported on 10 July 2026 that ECOWAS Director of Transport Chris Appiah said the Sierra Leone government confirmed it had removed "the $50 airport security charge previously levied on all passengers" at Freetown airport 6. The two reports give different amounts.

The ECOWAS 2026 rule

ECOWAS member states agreed to cut passenger and security charges by 25 percent from 1 January 2026 10. Aviation Week reported on 16 December 2025 that the security tax is among the non-cost-related taxes ECOWAS will remove 9. Ecofin Agency reported on 29 January 2026 that Nigeria raised immigration data processing fees by US$11.5 from 1 December 2025 and Ghana planned a US$9 rise from 1 February 2026 10.

Common questions

How much is the airport security fee in The Gambia?

US$20 on arrival and US$20 on departure, paid at kiosks at Banjul airport, according to UK advice of 7 July 2026 3.

Is the Sierra Leone airport security fee still charged?

The Ministry of Internal Affairs suspended the US$25 fee from 6 July 2026, as reported 5.

Is the Nigeria security charge in my ticket?

Section 51 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2022 says a security surcharge is payable on each international ticket from Nigeria 1. ICIR reported that the US$11.5 APIS charge is collected at the point of sale 2.

Did ECOWAS cut airport security charges?

ECOWAS states agreed a 25 percent cut in security charges from 1 January 2026 10.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@africapassengercharges.com.

Sources

  1. Federal Republic of Nigeria: Civil Aviation Act, 2022, Act No. 30 of 2022 (assented 16 August 2022), copy hosted by PLAC
  2. ICIR, as reported by Nanji Nandang Venley: Nigerian int'l airfares to attract extra $11.5 security charge from December 1 (28 October 2025)
  3. UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Gambia travel advice, entry requirements (updated 7 July 2026)
  4. Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Airport charges, Banjul International Airport (undated schedule, file posted January 2024)
  5. Pan African Visions, as reported by Ishmael Sallieu Koroma: Sierra Leone Suspends $25 Airport Security Fee as Government Reviews Contract (5 July 2026)
  6. The Sun Nigeria, as reported by Chinelo Obogo: ECOWAS slashes aviation taxes by 25% to crash airfares (10 July 2026)
  7. Ecofin Agency, as reported by Timothée Manoke for Bankable: DRC Clarifies $30 Airport Security Fee After Contract Leak (7 November 2025)
  8. ICAO: Cameroon airport and air navigation charges, Aerotariffs extract (latest amendment 11 April 2014), Air Cargo Africa 2017 country profile
  9. Aviation Week, as reported by Ella Nethersole: AFRAA Applauds Abolition Of Airfare Taxes Across West Africa (16 December 2025)
  10. Ecofin Agency, as reported by Lydie Mobio, Ingrid Haffiny and Henoc Dossa: ECOWAS: Why Airfares Remain High One Month After Tax Cuts (29 January 2026)

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