Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has pledged to enforce the Fly Nigeria Act, aiming to make it mandatory for government personnel, contractors, and grantees to use Nigeria’s air carriers for government-financed air travel.
Keyamo said the law, which has been delayed for over 15 years, will be finalised under his leadership.
Speaking at the “Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Legal Framework for the Fly Nigeria Bill and Related Enabling Legislation” in Abuja, Keyamo stated that he would rally key stakeholders to push for the Bill’s passage into law.
The Fly Nigeria Act mandates that all government-related air travel should be conducted by Nigerian flag carriers, an initiative that has been stalled for years despite initial proposals dating back to over 15 years ago.
Keyamo added that the failure of previous administrations to implement the bill, noting that efforts had stalled even when it was first proposed during the tenure of his predecessor.
He also pointed to the neglect of other critical proposals aimed at developing the local aviation industry, adding that under his leadership, these initiatives would move forward.
The minister further denounced the dominance of foreign airlines in African aviation, particularly in Nigeria, claiming that they continue to thrive without competition from local airlines.
“This has been on the cards for some time, for many years, more than 15 years, because I think my predecessor, Chief Omotoba, served more than 15 years ago. So you can imagine that this bill was taken to council more than 15 years ago, and yet it did not see the light of day.
“Under my tenure, it will happen,” Keyamo said, while accusing foreign airlines of exploiting the African market while stifling the growth of domestic carriers.
“We just want to get things done. And so, when I came to the office, I saw a couple of these things hanging on my desk, like the Cape Town Convention, to the cry of the Aviation Working Group, and all the proposals that have been made to former governments to develop especially indigenous industry, a local industry.
And what we did was to say, look, let us revive all of these dead things on my table that would help or that will help to develop our local industry.
“And one of them, of course, is the Fly Nigeria Act. Luckily Olisa Agbakoba was also talking to me about it. He had brought a proposal.
“It’s a global conspiracy, but you have to be smart to see it. Look at the entire African continent. Just look at it. All the foreign airlines in the world feed on the African markets without competition from African airlines, without fair competition from African airlines.”
Representatives from the Airline Operators of Nigeria, including Vice President Allen Onyema and spokesman Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, supported the move, calling it a crucial step for the country’s aviation sector and local airlines.
