Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo says the proposed “Fly Nigerian Act” will compel public officials to patronize domestic carriers on international routes.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says the government is drafting a new law that will require public officials to use Nigerian-owned airlines for all international trips.
The proposed legislation, known as the “Fly Nigerian Act,” aims to strengthen the country’s aviation industry and ensure that government spending on air travel benefits local carriers.
Keyamo announced the plan on Sunday October 26, 2025, during a ceremony marking Air Peace’s inaugural direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport. The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu and Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema.
“We are going to bring the bill on the Fly Nigerian Air to him (Benjamin Kalu). He will pass it,” Keyamo said. “Every government official travelling abroad must patronise our local airlines first, except where no Nigerian carrier flies that route.”
He noted that the initiative aligns with international practice, citing the United States’ “Fly America Act” and India’s “Fly India Act,” both of which require public servants to use their respective national airlines whenever possible.
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“If a minister, legislator, or director-general is flying abroad, the first question should be: is there a Nigerian airline on that route? If yes, they must use it,” he added.
Keyamo said the policy would boost confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector, enhance revenue for domestic airlines, and reduce capital flight to foreign carriers.
The minister also revealed plans to revamp Terminal One of the Lagos airport using funds saved from the government’s fuel subsidy removal, part of broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s airport infrastructure.
Aviation analysts say the Fly Nigerian Act could provide a lifeline for local airlines struggling to compete with well-funded international carriers. However, they caution that safety, reliability, and service quality will be key to gaining public trust.
Keyamo affirmed the ministry’s determination to see the bill passed by the National Assembly, calling it a “patriotic duty” to support Nigerian airlines in the global aviation market.