Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has called for the enactment of a law that would compel all government officials to patronize Nigerian airlines when traveling abroad.
Keyamo proposed on Sunday during a ceremony marking Air Peace’s inaugural direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport. The event, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was attended by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema.
According to the minister, the proposed legislation—titled the Fly Nigerian Act—will soon be presented to the National Assembly.
“We are going to bring the bill on the Fly Nigerian Air to him (Benjamin Kalu). He will pass it,” Keyamo said.
He explained that the law would mandate every public official traveling overseas to use a Nigerian carrier if one operates on that route.
“The Fly Nigerian Air Act will require that all government officials flying abroad patronize local airlines first—except in cases where no Nigerian airline operates that route,” he stated.
Keyamo added that the policy mirrors global practices such as the Fly America Act and similar laws in India and other countries designed to promote national carriers.
“We have the Fly American Act and the Fly India Act—these laws exist worldwide, but Nigeria has yet to adopt its version. It’s time we did,” he said.
Outlining how the law would work, Keyamo said: “If a minister, legislator, director-general, or any government official is travelling abroad, the first question should be: ‘Is there a Nigerian airline flying that route?’ If yes, they must fly that airline, except it doesn’t operate the route.”
The minister reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to ensuring the passage of the proposed bill, stressing that it would strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry and boost the global competitiveness of local carriers.
