Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for urgent and collective action to transform Africa’s aviation sector, urging countries to prioritise local maintenance capacity, air cargo development, innovation, and sustainability.
Speaking at the Ethiopian Aviation Forum in Addis Ababa, the minister emphasised the need for Africa to reduce its heavy reliance on foreign Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, which currently cost the continent billions of dollars annually. He noted that a significant portion of aircraft maintenance is still carried out outside Africa, leading to massive capital flight.
Keyamo pointed to Ethiopian Airlines as a model for success, describing it as a symbol of African excellence in aviation with its strong MRO capacity, cargo dominance, and global competitiveness.
He disclosed that Nigeria is actively pursuing reforms aimed at establishing regional MRO hubs, strengthening technical workforce development, and improving regulatory oversight to meet international standards. According to him, Africa must move from dependency to self-reliance in aviation services.
On airfreight and logistics, the minister highlighted the critical role of aviation in driving intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing the need for modern cargo infrastructure, harmonised customs systems, and enhanced security across the continent.
He also underscored the importance of embracing aviation technology, including artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, and smart airport systems, noting that Africa must position itself not just as a consumer but as a creator of innovation in the global aviation space.
Addressing environmental concerns, Keyamo called for a balanced approach to sustainability, encouraging the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), fleet modernisation, and energy-efficient airport operations. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to aligning with global environmental standards while considering the continent’s developmental realities.
The minister further urged African countries to deepen collaboration through initiatives such as the Single African Air Transport Market, stressing that no nation can achieve aviation transformation in isolation.
He concluded with a call for measurable commitments from stakeholders, expressing Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships to reposition Africa as a unified and competitive aviation powerhouse.
The Ethiopian Aviation Forum, hosted in Addis Ababa, brought together key industry players, regulators, and policymakers to chart a new course for the continent’s aviation future.