It doesn't have anything to do with how many pax are onboard the flights.
Its the whole principle that BA and Virgin can fly in unhindered and exercise the rights to the flights into Lagos and Abuja. But now after years of allowing these carriers in 1 Nigerian carrier wants to fly the Lagos-Heathrow route and Abuja-Heathrow but is met with this massive expense of £1.4 million a year due to some secret slot allocation closed club...I would personally give like for like if i was the Nigerian Government, and say Arik fly 7 flights a week out of Lagos-to Heathrow so the UK carriers can have 7 flights between them into Lagos.
Or i`d charge the 2 carriers similar fees to what Arik is being charged for flights into Heathrow and i`d rebate this money back to Arik to make it an even playing feilding with regard to costs.
So the Nigerian Government should protect its National organizations and business`s well done to them.