Keyamo, DGCA Champion Stronger Aeropolitics to Secure Nigerian Airlines’ Survival on Int’l Routes

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Chris Najomo, have emphasised the Federal Government’s strategic push to strengthen the nation’s position in international aeropolitics, particularly on the highly competitive London route.

Both the Minister and the DGCA made this firm resolve in their goodwill messages of support for Nigerian carriers during the Inaugural Lecture organised by SAPTCO Communication Ltd in Lagos on Thursday.

The event, themed “International Aeropolitics: The Survival of Nigerian Carriers on the London Route”, brought together aviation regulators, airline executives, former aviation chiefs, and industry stakeholders to examine Nigeria’s role and competitive stance in one of the world’s most coveted aviation markets.

Addressing participants, Keyamo, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs Obiageli Orah, said the Federal Government has continued to prioritise the sustainability and global competitiveness of domestic airlines since the advent of the current administration.

“Aviation is a necessary catalyst for economic growth both in our country and globally,” he said, adding that conversations about the aviation sector were directly connected to Nigeria’s collective progress.

Keyamo described the lecture topic as “dear to my heart”, noting that the government had taken bold steps to build capacity for indigenous airlines and strengthen their ability to operate profitably on international routes.

He revealed that Nigeria had engaged multiple countries to renegotiate and maximise Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) in favour of local airlines.

“Our passion to support our domestic airlines also took us to some aircraft manufacturers and lessors like Boeing and others to advance the new narrative of collaboration for our people,” he stated.

He noted that his team’s tours across the world were strategic engagements aimed at reconnecting Nigerian carriers to global partners, enabling access to aircraft, financing, and operational support.

Keyamo assured the industry that the government would continue to “play the international aeropolitics” necessary to protect the gains made by indigenous airlines, encourage route expansion, and provide an enabling environment for improved capacity and service quality.

In his remarks, the DGCA, who was represented by Regional Manager of NCAA, Mrs Olubukola Aduragbemi Teriba, underscored the strategic and symbolic importance of the London route, describing it as a “global battleground where only the strong, the prepared, and the well-supported can thrive.”

He told the audience that the challenges facing Nigerian carriers on the route – ranging from imbalanced agreements to high operating costs – were not obstacles that should intimidate the nation.

“As we gather for this inaugural lecture, we confront a subject that strikes at the very heart of our national aviation story,” he said. “The theme of today’s lecture is not simply an academic text. It is a narrative of identity, ambition, and the future of Nigeria’s place in global aviation,” said Najomo.

Using Air Peace as a reference point, the DGCA said Nigerian carriers had already demonstrated courage and competence by venturing into historically foreign-dominated markets.

“Their presence on the London route is more than a commercial venture; it is a declaration that Nigeria is ready to take its rightful place in the skies,” he asserted.

He emphasised that the NCAA remained committed to ensuring Nigeria maintains favourable ratings in aviation safety and security from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), noting that such ratings strengthen global confidence and support fair treatment for Nigerian operators abroad.

“Our regulations must be fair, just, and globally in line with the highest standards,” he said, adding that the NCAA would continue to advocate for Nigeria in the international aeropolitical arena.

The DGCA stressed that the success of Nigerian carriers cannot be left to airlines alone, but requires joint effort among regulators, airport authorities, government ministries, diplomats, and industry partners.

“It requires us to believe in our own capacity, to support our airlines, and to demand the reciprocity and respect that our nation deserves,” he said.

He highlighted Nigeria’s strong aviation market and human capacity, insisting that with determination, “there is no route, no corridor and no global stage where Nigerian carriers cannot excel.”

Both speakers commended SAPTCO Communication Ltd for initiating the lecture series and spotlighting a topic that has become central to Nigeria’s aviation future.

Keyamo described the event as “very important”, while the DGCA said it created a vital platform for dialogue on the nation’s aeropolitical strategy.

The two industry leaders reaffirmed that the survival – and eventual dominance – of Nigerian carriers on major international routes such as London was “not only possible but inevitable” if the industry continues to act with unity, consistency, and purpose.