Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has outlined a decisive five-point action plan designed to fast-track aviation growth across Africa. He announced the action plan in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, who confirmed that the reforms focus on accelerated SAATM implementation using phased, criteria-based liberalisation. He explained that the action plan depends on harmonised legal and judicial frameworks that lower capital costs and support more reliable aircraft-financing structures for African carriers.
The Minister noted that the continent needs innovative financing and leasing models that can reduce entry barriers and support sustainable growth. He said these models must include risk-sharing arrangements and local-currency instruments that help airlines manage volatile exchange environments. He added that the action plan also embeds environmental responsibility by encouraging the adoption of fuel-efficient fleets and greener operational practices that reflect global sustainability standards.
Keyamo stressed that the action plan prioritises investment in people and institutions because no aviation system can grow without skilled professionals and strong regulatory capacity. He highlighted the need for continuous training, improved safety oversight, and a deeper pool of technical expertise that can support local maintenance and operational ecosystems. He warned that delaying reforms would leave Africa disconnected and economically disadvantaged, insisting that the sector cannot afford fragmented national approaches that weaken competitiveness. He reaffirmed that “the alternative to open skies is unacceptable” because Africa’s long-term development depends on seamless connectivity.
During a high-level webinar hosted by Aluko & Oyebode, titled Navigating the African Skies: Legal, Economic and Trade Pathways for the Future of Aviation in Africa, the Minister emphasised that aviation must be recognised as core economic infrastructure. The virtual dialogue brought together aviation, legal, and economic experts to explore the policy frameworks, financing options, and cooperative pathways that can expand Africa’s air-transport landscape. The session was moderated by Adeleresimi Philips-Adeleye and Adebowale Aluko, and featured speakers such as Tonye Krukrubo, SAN, Chris Diaz, Shalini Bhuchar, Richard Goss, Anton Chambers, and Oghogho Makinde.
In his keynote address, Unlocking Africa’s Aviation Potential: The Open Skies Imperative, Keyamo described aviation as the “connecting tissue” that binds commerce, tourism, manufacturing value chains, and regional integration. He argued that Africa cannot achieve sustainable development without modern and efficient air-transport systems. He therefore renewed his call for full commitment to the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single African Air Transport Market. He explained that although implementation has progressed slowly, the economic benefits of open skies remain “real, measurable, and urgent,” and should guide policy decisions at national and regional levels.
The Minister highlighted Nigeria’s recent legal reforms as evidence of its readiness to drive continental liberalisation. He pointed to the Federal High Court practice directions that improve compliance with the Cape Town Convention by ensuring quicker dispute resolution and stronger protection for leased aircraft. He said these reforms boost investor confidence and reduce financing costs for Nigerian operators. He urged other African states to adopt similar harmonised legal structures that protect assets, encourage leasing, and support predictable regulatory outcomes.
Keyamo explained that modernising airline fleets is essential to achieving competitive performance and reducing operational costs. He cited Nigeria’s Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing as an example of how African countries can align with global manufacturers, deepen local technical capability, and create developmental pathways for their national carriers. He said collaboration with lessors, manufacturers, and technical partners will strengthen fleet renewal efforts across the continent.
He further emphasised that his action plan included safety oversight and fair-competition rules must remain central to the open-skies agenda. He said Africa needs robust human-capital development policies that expand training centres, modernise MRO facilities, and build technical ecosystems that retain skills and investment within the continent. He insisted that open skies must generate value for African workers and African businesses rather than exporting opportunities abroad.
Reiterating the urgency of reform, Keyamo said Africa must avoid regulatory hesitation that limits growth and restricts access to regional markets. He explained that the Federal Government remains committed to a pragmatic, safe, and inclusive liberalisation process guided by strengthened legal frameworks, renewed international cooperation, and the modernisation of aviation infrastructure. He stated that Nigeria intends to drive clear economic outcomes such as improved connectivity, lower logistics costs, and stronger market competitiveness.
The Minister called on African governments, private-sector partners, financiers, and young professionals to embrace aviation as a driver of integration and long-term prosperity. He said the continent must convert long-standing commitments under the Yamoussoukro Decision and SAATM into practical gains including more routes, reduced fares, modern fleets, efficient airports, and stable employment across the value chain. He concluded that “open skies is not just a policy choice, it is an economic imperative for Africa’s future,” urging stakeholders to build an aviation environment that is open, safe, and prosperous for all.
