Govt-funded journeys should prioritise Nigerian flag carriers beneath Fly Nigeria Act – Keyamo 

The Federal Authorities has proposed the Fly Nigeria Act, a legislative framework designed to revitalise the aviation sector by mandating that every one government-funded journeys prioritise Nigerian flag carriers.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Growth, Mr. Festus Keyamo, unveiled the Act throughout a stakeholders’ engagement on the proposal on Friday.

Keyamo described the Fly Nigeria Act as a daring initiative to help the nation’s aviation trade, which he known as a “important pillar of the Nigerian financial system.”

He emphasised the sector’s essential function in driving financial development, facilitating commerce, and fostering connections inside and past Nigeria’s borders.

The Act’s main focus is to make sure that Nigerian flag carriers are given precedence for all government-funded journey, whether or not home, regional, or worldwide.

“The abstract of the Fly Nigeria Act is that each government-funded journey, whether or not from a ministry or company, should patronise the Nigerian flag provider first earlier than any international provider,” Keyamo said.

This prioritisation extends to connecting flights as properly.

Keyamo defined, “If you’re travelling to the US via London, and the primary leg of that journey has a Nigerian flag provider flying the route, you could use the Nigerian provider for that leg earlier than connecting to a world provider.” 

The Minister defined that the Act goals to create demand and market alternatives, even for routes not at the moment operated by Nigerian carriers. By incentivising the event of such routes, the proposed laws seeks to determine a extra strong and aggressive aviation marketplace for the nation.

What it’s best to know  

Whereas the Fly Nigeria Act stays within the proposal stage, the federal authorities has already taken important steps to advertise native aviation content material.

In October 2024, a directive was issued mandating all outbound flights from Nigeria, together with international airways, to supply onboard meals from native caterers beginning January 1, 2025. 

• This directive aligns with the Act’s broader imaginative and prescient of prioritizing Nigerian companies, strengthening native industries, and enhancing the aviation sector.
• Communicated via a memo to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, it highlights the significance of using Nigeria’s sources to stimulate the native financial system.
• The Aviation Minister clarified that whereas airways usually are not obligated to serve Nigerian dishes, they need to have interaction native caterers able to assembly worldwide requirements, with high quality management businesses making certain compliance.

This initiative enhances the Fly Nigeria Act’s aim of revitalizing the aviation sector, fostering financial development, and creating new alternatives for native companies.