The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced his commitment to enacting the Fly Nigeria Act, a policy that mandates the use of Nigerian airlines for government-funded air travel.

Speaking at a one-day event in Abuja titled Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Legal Framework for the Fly Nigeria Bill and Related Enabling Legislation, Keyamo pledged to work with stakeholders to ensure the bill becomes law.

This move, he noted, is critical for strengthening Nigeria’s aviation industry, which has long been dominated by foreign airlines.

Keyamo expressed frustration over the bill’s stagnation, highlighting that it has been in development for over 15 years.

“This bill was taken to council more than 15 years ago but never saw the light of day. Under my tenure, it will happen,” he asserted.

The proposed Fly Nigeria Act will require that all government-funded air travel—including for personnel, contractors, grantees, and property—be carried out using Nigerian airlines.

Keyamo stressed the importance of reviving policies that promote the local aviation sector, calling the bill a crucial step toward addressing imbalances in the African aviation market.

He also criticized the dominance of foreign airlines in Africa, describing it as a “global conspiracy” that undermines fair competition.

“Foreign airlines are exploiting the African market without fair competition. In Nigeria, they arrive full and leave full, yet African carriers are left behind,” Keyamo lamented.

Vice President of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, along with the association’s spokesperson, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, lauded the initiative as a significant milestone for the domestic aviation sector.

To move the process forward, Keyamo announced plans to establish a technical committee and present a draft resolution to the National Assembly, whose members, he said, are eager to pass the legislation.

“This is good for us, for our aviation industry, and especially for local operators,” Keyamo concluded.