Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, is committed to advancing the long-awaited Fly Nigeria Bill, which aims to mandate the use of Nigerian airlines for all government-funded air travel, emphasizing support for the national aviation sector.
A similar scheme operates in many countries including with United States of America.
The bill, under development for over 15 years, has reached the draft stage, and Keyamo is advocating for its passage to help revive stalled initiatives impacting the industry.
The government has indicated it will not provide bailout funding to domestic airlines but is focused on creating supportive policies amid rising costs and currency devaluation challenges affecting the local airline market.
Keyamo also highlighted the importance of compliance with the Cape Town Convention to enhance access to aircraft leases, which is vital for improving the international competitiveness of Nigerian airlines.
