Nigeria’s aviation sector is set for deeper collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on safe migration, anti-trafficking and emergency response.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, gave the assurance during a meeting with the Chief of Mission, IOM UN Migration, Sharon Dimanche, in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Tunde Moshood, the meeting focused on strengthening the aviation sector’s role in protecting vulnerable migrants and supporting safer movement.
The proposed partnership will centre on three key areas identified by the IOM. These include combating human trafficking, improving emergency response and evacuation, and developing broader institutional partnerships for migration management.
The development comes as Nigeria continues to position aviation as a strategic channel for the movement of people. It also places airlines, regulators and airport stakeholders closer to the wider migration management system.
IOM Targets Three Aviation Collaboration Areas
Chief of Mission, IOM UN Migration, Sharon Dimanche, said the organisation was interested in identifying areas where aviation could contribute to safer and more orderly migration.
Dimanche noted that Nigeria occupies three important positions within migration flows. The country serves as a place of origin, transit and destination for migrants.
She said attention often focuses on irregular migration routes. However, many migrants also use regular channels, including air travel, without fully understanding their destinations or the conditions awaiting them.
That concern is particularly important for vulnerable travellers from rural communities. Dimanche said limited knowledge of migration processes could expose such persons to trafficking and exploitation.
She warned that the risks could extend to airports, making the aviation system an important point for prevention and intervention.
The IOM therefore proposed closer cooperation with the Ministry, airlines and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON). The objective is to strengthen the identification, protection and safe movement of vulnerable migrants travelling through the aviation system.
The first priority is stronger action against human trafficking and better protection for vulnerable migrants. The second is improved coordination during emergency response and evacuation operations.
The third priority is wider institutional cooperation to support safer and more humane migration management.
Dimanche also challenged Nigerian authorities to identify their priorities and determine where the IOM could provide practical support.
“Beyond that, my work is to support our member states. I am here to ask: what are your priorities? Where do you see IOM? How can we best support what you think will help you?” she said.
Keyamo Pledges Aviation Sector Support
Responding to the proposal, the Minister welcomed the initiative.
Keyamo described migration as a multimodal phenomenon involving different forms of transportation. He specifically referenced land and air as components of the wider migration system.
The Minister, however, stressed the strategic importance of aviation within that system. He said aviation remained one of the most potent channels for moving people.
That position, he argued, makes cooperation with migration and security institutions essential. It also creates a role for Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem beyond its traditional passenger transportation functions.
Keyamo said the Ministry was prepared to mobilise the sector behind the IOM’s objectives.
“For us, it is simply to cooperate. That is our duty, to cooperate and ensure that your objectives and goals are achieved. We are prepared to mobilise the entire aviation ecosystem in your support,” the Minister stated.
He also proposed directly linking the IOM with AON. Such engagement would give the organisation a stronger institutional route to work with airline operators.
The proposed interface could focus on safe migration and the protection of vulnerable passengers. It could also provide airlines with clearer channels for engaging with migration authorities on emerging concerns.
NCAA, Airlines Set for Follow-Up Engagement
Beyond the broad commitment, the meeting produced an immediate administrative step.
Keyamo directed one of his Special Assistants to liaise with the IOM team. The official is expected to facilitate a meeting with the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The proposed meeting will also bring representatives of airlines into the discussion. This could create a direct platform for the regulator, IOM and operators to examine practical areas of cooperation.
Aviation Takes Wider Role in Migration Management
The engagement also highlights the expanding role aviation can play in Nigeria’s migration framework.
Airports are not simply departure and arrival points. They can also become important locations for identifying vulnerable travellers and preventing exploitation.
The IOM’s concerns place additional emphasis on how airlines and aviation authorities interact with passengers. This includes how potential risks are identified before or during travel.
Meanwhile, emergency evacuation represents another area where aviation already has strategic importance. Better coordination between migration authorities, regulators and operators could strengthen Nigeria’s ability to respond during crises.
The meeting between Festus Keyamo, SAN, and Sharon Dimanche has consequently established a broader conversation around aviation and migration.
According to Moshood, the engagement marks the beginning of a more structured relationship between the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, IOM, NCAA and Nigeria’s airline operators.
