The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has announced that Nigeria will no longer permit foreign airlines to dominate its airspace. Addressing the International Route Development Conference in Moscow, Keyamo criticized the disproportionate benefits that airlines from Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, and other countries currently receive from Nigeria’s passenger traffic.
Keyamo underscored Nigeria’s strategic location, positioning it as an ideal candidate to become Africa’s central aviation hub. He highlighted the country’s potential to serve as a key air transportation center due to its proximity to South America, Europe, and Asia.
To correct the imbalance where much of Nigeria’s international traffic is serviced by foreign airlines, Keyamo detailed plans to enhance the capacity of Nigerian carriers. This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector and ensure local operators capture more of the traffic.
Keyamo also revealed Nigeria’s plans to expand international routes, including establishing direct flights to South America, particularly Brazil. He noted the current necessity of indirect routes through countries like Ethiopia or Angola to reach Brazil and committed to creating direct connections to address this gap.
The focus on increasing local airline capacity and expanding international routes reflects Nigeria’s ambition to fully leverage its aviation potential and enhance its role in global air transportation.