The Honourable Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN has pledged that the Federal government of Nigeria “will continue to play the international aeropolitics to ensure that our indigenous airlines sustain the gains already made, even as they continue to expand their routes while delivering excellent services.”
In a goodwill message delivered at the Inaugural Lecture organized by SAPTCO Communications Ltd in Lagos, Nigeria, Mr. Keyamo represented by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director of Special Duties at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing Nigeria airlines support in international Aeropolitics, particularly on the London route.
The Honourable Minister commended the organizer of the event, Mr. Sam Adurogboye for the theme of the lecture: “International Aeropolitics: The Survival Of Nigerian Carriers On London Route” as it is a topic dear to the nation as a whole.
He stated that: “Aviation is a necessary catalyst for economic growth both in our country and globally, so when we discuss aviation, we invariably discuss our collective progress” and reiterated that the Federal Government has taken several steps in providing tremendous support to the nation’s indigenous carriers.
The Honourable Minister stated that: “the sustainability of our domestic airlines has received priority attention since the inception of this administration” and noted that Nigeria has engaged multiple countries to renegotiate and maximise Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) in favour of the domestic airlines.
Notably among the efforts of the Governments according to the Honourable Minister to support the airlines was the visit to “aircraft manufacturers and lessors like Boeing and others to advance the new narrative of collaboration for our people.” He stated that the purpose of the visits also included to “reconnect our domestic airlines to international partners for new opportunities to increase their capacity.”
The Honourable Minister assured the industry that the Federal Government would “continue to make policies and create healthy environments for our airlines to thrive.”
The event witnessed the presence of former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, Regional Manager, NCAA, Lagos, Barrister Olubukola Aduragbemi Teriba, Chairman of Air Peace, Barr. Allen Onyema ably represented by the Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Nowel Ngala, and the Former MD of SAHCO, Mr. Basil Agboarumi amongst many other dignitaries.