Keyamo Reaffirms Commitment to Developing Local Capacities in Aviation Sector with New Policy Direction

…Highlights Importance of Airport Concessions, Consumer Protection Portal 

Nigeria’s Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to bolster the country’s aviation industry by focusing on building local capacities, rather than relying on external support to dominate the sector. 

Speaking with journalists at the official launch of the Consumer Protection Portal, an initiative of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) under the directorate of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection in Lagos on Thursday, Keyamo emphasised the importance of creating an environment that allows indigenous airlines to thrive, comparing it to how other nations have succeeded.

Reflecting on past approaches, Keyamo noted, “It would have been easy for us, like some previous people did, to throw up their hands and say, look, it is not working. Some other people have more capacity than us, and they go outside to bring those capacities to kill our local capacities.” 

He explained that, in contrast, the current administration, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, has opted for a different route. The minister expressed gratitude for the president’s unwavering support in ensuring Nigeria’s aviation industry takes a new direction.

“I am very clear as to our direction in the aviation industry and Mr. President directed that we should go that way. I want to thank Mr. President for giving us all the support. I am sure you see the clear difference in policies. One says no. We cannot do it. So, go and get people from outside to come and dominate our space. I say no. Let us see how those people do it and rather bring that same environment to our own people to achieve what others, who are not anyway, better than us, can achieve,” he stressed.

Keyamo highlighted that the current administration is taking the “hard road” by addressing the root causes of the challenges Nigeria faces in the aviation sector. 

He pointed out that he has travelled across the globe to engage with international experts to learn what is required to elevate Nigeria’s aviation industry to the level of nations like Qatar and Ethiopia.

“What we have done is to take the hard road. What is the hard road? We decided to go round the world to say, ‘Look! What do you want us to do to be like Qatar; to be like Addis Ababa? What do you want us to do?’ They gave us conditions,” the minister explained.

According to Keyamo, Nigeria already possesses the fundamental elements needed for success in the aviation industry, such as a strong economy, a large population, and a robust travelling public. 

The minister revealed that the Ministry has started addressing the conditions set by international bodies, which had been ignored for over a decade by previous administrations. 

“We have the country already. We have the economy. We have the population. We have the travelling public. So, why can’t we be like them? So, they gave us these conditions. We have started to address the conditions one by one. Other people ignored these conditions in the past. 

“I saw letters from ten years ago, five years ago that they wrote to Nigeria to say, you are not fulfilling this, and they ignored those letters. I went back to those letters,” he said.

Keyamo further detailed that the government’s recent efforts have earned Nigeria recognition in the global aviation community, particularly after fulfilling the requirements of the Cape Town Convention. 

This, he believes, will pave the way for Nigeria to become a preferred destination for lessors and financiers in the global aviation market.

“This is the first step. There are other steps coming. What we did is, we drew from our wealth of professional background. We did the Cape Town Convention. We did the practice direction. They are rating us high,” Keyamo explained.

The minister expressed confidence that the chosen path would lead Nigeria to becoming a key player in the global aviation industry, stating, “To ensure that this country becomes a country that enjoys the patronage of lessors and financiers across the world, that is the path we have taken.”

Addressing the issue of airport concessions, Keyamo disclosed that the government is preparing to advertise for new concessions but will prioritise transparency and inclusivity, particularly with regard to unions and workers’ job security.

“We are advertising very soon for concessions. However, we want to carry the unions along. This is my major focus in this drive. I don’t want to do it like the previous ones where there were complaints either from within or outside.”

Keyamo assured workers that their jobs are safe, noting that any concession agreement must take their welfare into account. 

“One of the first conditions we will give whoever wants to do concessions with us is that you carry out liabilities along, the workers. Make sure their jobs are safe. Then, we can start talking,” the Minister assured.

Regarding initiatives aimed at improving customer service at the airports, Keyamo said the NCAA Consumer Protection Portal was one of such initiatives designed to streamline the complaint process for passengers in real time. 

He noted that the portal is part of a broader effort to enhance the experience of the travelling public.

“The travelling public deserves to know how their complaints are treated and whom to complain to directly,” he stated, adding that the new portal provides transparency and accountability.

Keyamo, a frequent flyer himself, expressed concern about the frustration passengers often face at airports and highlighted the importance of addressing these issues. 

“With the launch of this portal, there is an avenue where passengers can now ventilate their anger, a very good means to lodge their complaints, and this will reduce the rage and angst.”

He praised the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) for resolving 65% of complaints and urged them to improve their performance to 95%. 

“The new portal will also put the NCAA under pressure to do more,” he added.

The launch of the portal marks a significant step towards enhancing customer service and ensuring that the aviation sector provides improved and excellent service to the travelling public. 

Keyamo concluded by stating that all stakeholders in the sector must work together to achieve these objectives, as “we are all consumer protection officers.”