FG ABANDONS NATIONAL CARRIER PROJECT, SHIFTS FOCUS TO BOOST LOCAL AIRLINES – AVIATION MINISTER
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government has officially shelved the controversial national carrier project, redirecting its focus toward strengthening Nigeria’s domestic aviation industry, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, announced on Friday.
Speaking at the launch of 100 Years of Civil Aviation in Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects, a new book by aviation journalist Wole Shadare, Keyamo said the Tinubu administration is prioritising policy reforms that support the growth and sustainability of local carriers.
“We have shifted focus to ensure growth and development for local operators through our policies,” Keyamo stated. “This includes a revised insurance regulation for leased aircraft, aimed at making aircraft acquisition easier and reducing airfares on domestic routes.”
He also addressed the deteriorating state of infrastructure at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), revealing plans to demolish the ageing old terminal and replace it with a modern facility. Keyamo expressed concern over the terminal’s poor condition, describing the planned overhaul as part of broader efforts to improve service delivery and safety standards.
The Minister noted that the government has taken significant steps to reduce revenue leakages and invest in training and retraining air traffic operators. He also disclosed that most foreign airlines operating in Nigeria have now complied with his directive to patronise local in-flight catering services, boosting the domestic supply chain.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, highlighted the growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector despite existing challenges. She revealed that the country now has 39 certified airline operators, 31 operational airports, and over 2,100 licensed pilots.
Kuku noted that the air transport sector contributed $1.7 billion to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024, with private airlines playing a key role in connecting cities and driving sectoral transformation. She hailed the rise of indigenous carriers such as Air Peace and Arik Air as a major turnaround from the collapse of the defunct Nigeria Airways.
“Our aviation sector now serves as a case study in the success of market-driven reforms,” Kuku said. “Last year alone, over 16 million passengers passed through domestic terminals, and more than 3.5 million used international terminals. These are strong figures, but we are just scratching the surface of our full potential.”
Despite regulatory, infrastructure, and financing challenges, she emphasised that Nigeria remains a crucial market for international airlines and continues to attract significant attention from global aviation stakeholders.
Book author Wole Shadare described his work as a 25-chapter chronicle of the evolution of civil aviation in Nigeria, offering valuable insights for scholars, researchers, and aviation professionals.
The event served as both a reflection on a century of Nigerian aviation and a platform to outline a new direction driven by private-sector dynamism and strategic policy reforms.
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