Nigeria is committed to expanding local airline capacity, aiming to shift the air traffic imbalance from foreign carriers to domestic operators. Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, highlighted this at the International Route Development Conference, Network Cargo 2024, in Moscow, Russia.
He remarked that Nigeria’s aviation sector has significant untapped potential, which the government is determined to develop.
In a statement signed by Tunde Moshood, Keyamo emphasized that most international traffic originating from Nigeria is currently serviced by foreign airlines. “If you look at it, most of the flights originating from Nigeria are not indigenous. Airlines from Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, and other countries feed on our traffic. They know that Nigerians travel all over the world,” he remarked.
He further reiterated that the government’s focus on expanding local airline capacity would ensure that Nigerian carriers benefit from the country’s vibrant market.
Moreover, Keyamo stressed Nigeria’s unique geographical advantage in becoming a central hub for air transportation in Africa.
“Geographically, Nigeria is in the best position to serve as the true aviation hub for Africa,” Keyamo said. “If you examine the map, we are equidistant to key regions like South America, Europe, and Asia. In terms of flight hours, we are about six to seven hours from Doha, Dubai, and Brazil. Our strategic location, combined with our growing population, positions us perfectly to be the hub Africa needs.”
Also, Keyamo announced that Nigeria plans to establish direct flight routes to South America, specifically Brazil, for better connectivity.
These new routes aim to improve aviation links and reduce the current inconvenience of detouring through other countries.
By establishing direct flights, Nigeria seeks to enhance its role in global aviation and provide more efficient travel options.
“It’s ironic that to fly from Nigeria to Brazil, travelers have to go east to Addis Ababa or head to Angola before flying west. This simply does not make sense. We are addressing this by working to open direct routes from Nigeria to South America,” Keyamo revealed.
Additionally, the Nigerian government supports its efforts to improve the aviation sector by adopting the Cape Town Convention’s practice directions. This move provides crucial legal protection for leased aircraft operating within the country, offering confidence to lessors and financiers.
Keyamo said, “We understand that lessors and financiers need to feel secure when their aircraft are in Nigeria.”“By adopting the Cape Town Convention’s practices, we have ensured that the courts in Nigeria will protect their investments. This is another step towards creating a more attractive aviation environment.”
Keyamo also reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is prioritizing the development of local airlines. “The President is therefore, very clear in his vision to ramp up the capacity of Nigerian airlines,” Keyamo remarked. “We cannot keep surrendering our airspace to foreign airlines. Our local operators must have the capacity to handle this traffic and benefit from it. That is a major focus of this administration.”
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted Nigeria’s growing commitment to achieving global standards in the aviation sector by improving safety, building infrastructure, and enhancing partnerships with international aviation bodies. “We are not just expanding local airline capacity; we are also committing to meeting global safety and operational standards. Our goal is to ensure that our aviation sector competes effectively on the global stage.”
The conference focused on enhancing global partnerships through top-tier freight forwarding services, attracting aviation leaders and transport ministers worldwide.
Participants explored strategies to create more efficient and competitive cargo routes, addressing challenges in international freight transportation.
Nigeria actively invests in these discussions, working to expand its aviation influence and improve cargo handling capabilities.
