Freetown — A surprise government decision to halt collection of the US$25 Airport Security Fee at Freetown International Airport has ignited concerns that Sierra Leone could face another expensive contractual showdown with Securiport (SL) Limited, potentially exposing taxpayers to millions in fresh liabilities.
In a directive issued on July 1, 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered the company to stop collecting the fee effective July 6 through December, citing the need for a full contract review and a special audit by the Audit Service Sierra Leone.
Officials described the current manual cash system as outdated, passenger-unfriendly, and out of step with international airport standards.
However, the move has raised immediate red flags among legal and industry observers, who point to the original 2012 agreement under which Securiport financed and installed Sierra Leone’s immigration and security infrastructure with the explicit understanding that it would recoup its investment solely through the security fee.
The contract reportedly includes provisions requiring the government to ensure fee collection and to compensate the firm for any revenue lost due to official actions that interfere with operations.
This is not the first time fee collection issues have triggered costly fallout. A previous interruption in collections led to a protracted dispute that was ultimately resolved when the government paid Securiport US$12 million as a negotiated settlement for accumulated liabilities. Government sources indicate an additional US$8 million is already owed under existing contractual obligations.
Questions Swirl Around K5 Automated System
The suspension has also thrown a spotlight on the handling of the so-called K5 Aviation Safety Fee, an internationally recognized mechanism approved by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2017. Under that arrangement, the US$25 charge was to be collected automatically at ticket purchase, clearly itemized on boarding passes, and remitted by airlines directly — eliminating the need for manual cash payments at the airport.
Official correspondence from September 2017 confirms the K5 code became effective for tickets issued from that month onward, with proceeds earmarked specifically for Securiport’s immigration services.
The continued reliance on manual collections years after the K5 system’s introduction has puzzled analysts. Key questions now emerging include:
– Whether airlines properly applied the K5 code on tickets.
– If revenues collected through the automated system were fully and correctly remitted.
– Why passengers were still required to pay cash at the airport if the IATA-approved mechanism was in place.
Some observers have gone further, quietly questioning whether revenues may have been mismanaged or diverted. These issues are expected to feature prominently in the government’s promised special audit.
Continued Operations Without Revenue
The ministerial directive instructs Securiport to keep all security technology, passenger screening systems, and operations running normally during the six-month suspension while meticulously recording passenger numbers and the revenue that would have been generated. Critics have called this requirement unrealistic and potentially damaging, arguing it effectively asks the company to work without pay — a scenario the contract appears designed to protect against through compensation clauses.
Securiport has reportedly sought written assurances from the government that lost revenues during the suspension period will be honored, outstanding payments settled, and full migration to the airline-ticket collection system completed before the temporary measure expires.
Broader Implications for Investor Confidence
The controversy carries added weight because Securiport is a United States-owned enterprise. While no diplomatic statements have been issued, legal experts warn that high-profile disputes with foreign investors are closely monitored internationally and could affect perceptions of Sierra Leone’s reliability as a business destination.
As the audit gets underway, the coming months will test whether the government can resolve long-standing ambiguities around the K5 system, clarify contractual responsibilities, and avoid repeating the expensive settlements of the past. For now, the suspension has transformed a routine operational review into a high-stakes test of contract enforcement and fiscal accountability at Sierra Leone’s main international gateway.
