The Federal Government’s decision to focus on creating capacity rather than demonising local carriers has earned commendation from the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON). The group applauded the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for offering practical support for indigenous airlines and reversing a long-standing blame culture.
In a statement signed by AON Vice President, Chief Allen Onyema, the association said the government’s new posture shows maturity and a genuine desire to strengthen the aviation sector. According to them, previous administrations often targeted airlines for underperformance without tackling root challenges such as access to capital, leasing constraints, and regulatory delays.
“Love him or hate him, believe it or not, Festus Keyamo is absolutely God-sent to Nigeria’s aviation industry,” the statement read. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a genius when selecting the right persons for strategic positions of immense national importance. The appointment of Keyamo is one made right.”
Since assuming office in August 2023, Keyamo has driven sector-wide reforms grounded in realism and national interest. He introduced a five-point agenda focused on improving the aviation value chain. The second point of that agenda highlights his commitment to helping local airline businesses grow and survive, while meeting global safety and quality benchmarks.
Through this agenda, the Ministry has launched targeted reforms. These aim to address capacity shortfalls and make dry-leased aircraft more accessible to Nigerian carriers. According to AON, the success of these measures is already materialising as airlines prepare to receive new fleet additions at lower operating costs.
“This Minister has repositioned Nigeria’s aviation and Nigeria positively on the global scene,” AON said. “In the coming weeks, Nigerian airlines will begin receiving the all-important dry-leased aircraft, a landmark development that will empower operators to grow their fleets with greater ease and affordability.”
Beyond policy, the group praised the Minister’s political will and firm grasp of real-world industry dynamics. His decisions, they added, reflect a rare balance of technical insight and patriotic focus.
AON also commended President Tinubu for backing the Minister’s efforts and instructing him to improve the fortunes of indigenous carriers. The association said the results prove that decisive leadership is possible when appointments are merit-based and outcomes are monitored.
“We commend the Federal Government for seeking ways to address the capacity challenges faced by local airlines, rather than demonising them for lack of capacity—an ugly trend that marred the past. This new direction reflects true leadership and patriotic pragmatism,” the association stressed.
AON maintained that creating enabling conditions is the only sustainable way to achieve airline reliability and competitiveness. They argued that blaming operators for weaknesses built into the system does little to improve safety or investor confidence.
The group reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the Ministry. It noted that cooperation will be essential to meet shared goals of reliability, safety, and international competitiveness in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
In summary, the Minister’s support for indigenous airlines is now widely recognised as a defining shift in policy direction. For the first time in years, local carriers are being empowered to expand and modernise without fear of official scapegoating.
