… reiterates compliance would be a key determinant in approving airline schedules
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has emphasised the need for foreign airlines to patronise indigenous caterers, reiterating his stance that compliance would be a key determinant in approving airline schedules.
Keyamo who reiterated this on Friday February 28, 2025 while hosting a stakeholders Engagement in Lagos, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the Nigerian aviation sector through strategic policies that prioritise local economic growth, workers’ rights, and infrastructural development.
He said: “I have said it before, and I am saying it again, foreign airlines should patronise indigenous caterers. Otherwise, I will not sign the summer schedule”, Keyamo stated.
He then directed the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, to commence immediate engagement with airlines to ensure compliance with this directive.
The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Abubakar Kana, along with key aviation agency heads, including Najomo, Managing Director/CEO, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Director General of Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET),
Prof. Charles Anosike, and the Managing Director, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Farouk Umar, (represented by Mr. John Tayo, Director of Air Travel Services).
Others are Registrar, African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Mustapha Sheik Abdullahi, and directors across aviation agencies.
During the engagement, the Minister addressed concerns raised by aviation workers’ unions regarding airlines restricting union activities within their organisations. He directed the NCAA to open discussions with airlines to allow union members to exercise their rights within the workplace.
Furthermore, he assured union representatives that they would be actively involved in discussions concerning the concession of airports, emphasising transparency in the process. He promised to instruct his Special Assistant on Public-Private Partnerships (SA PPP) to engage union leaders and keep them updated on the concession plans.
Keyamo also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has finalised plans for the reconstruction of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, alongside potential concessions for some smaller airports to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
The Stakeholders’ Forum provided an opportunity for open dialogue between the government, aviation agencies, and industry players, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to collaborative decision-making for a more sustainable and competitive aviation sector.