The Nigerian government has announced plans to introduce the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly, a policy aimed at strengthening the country’s aviation sector by mandating government officials to prioritize local airlines for official trips.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, revealed this during the 2025 ministerial press briefing on Thursday in Abuja. According to him, the proposed legislation will require all government-funded travel to be undertaken using Nigerian airlines, except in cases where no local carrier operates on a particular route.
Keyamo emphasized that the initiative goes beyond aviation policy, positioning it as a strategic economic move aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, with aviation playing a crucial role.
“We are in the process of pushing the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly. There is a Fly America Act, and I believe there is also a Fly India Act. Most major countries have their own ‘Fly Act’ to promote their national airlines,” Keyamo stated.
He added that the draft of the Fly Nigeria Act is nearly ready, and once passed into law, it is expected to significantly boost local airlines, create jobs, and retain revenue within the country.
The minister also highlighted recent achievements by the Tinubu administration in the aviation sector, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s air travel industry.