The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN CON FCIArb (UK), has reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to Global Air Transport Standards and facilitation protocols; this, he made known during his speech at the ongoing 2025 ICAO Facilitation (FAL) Conference holfing in Doha, Qatar.
The Honourable Minister joined other prominent figures in the global aviation community—including the Minister of Transport of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani; President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano; ICAO Secretary General, Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar; and several Directors General of Civil Aviation Authorities. The Minister used the platform to highlight Nigeria’s strides in aviation development and international cooperation.
“First, let me extend to you all, very warm greetings and congratulations from our President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and the good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Minister began. “I also wish to thank the Government of Qatar and the International Civil Aviation Organization for convening this pivotal gathering that reinforces our collective commitment to advancing global air transport facilitation.”
Keyamo reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding dedication to the objectives of ICAO, noting that since Nigeria joined the ICAO Council in 1962, the country has played an active role, particularly across the African continent. He further emphasized Nigeria’s ratification of key international air law instruments such as the Montreal Protocol and relevant amendments to the Chicago Convention.
Highlighting the country’s progress, Keyamo stated, “Nigeria has been recognized as the leading African nation in compliance with global aviation standards, a feat driven by our robust regulatory framework and the professionalism of our aviation workforce.”
The Minister referenced a number of significant policy developments undertaken by the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda to improve the aviation sector. These include the endorsement of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) and associated Practice Direction on deregistration and export requests of leased aircraft in September 2024, which led to Nigeria’s Aviation Working Group (AWG) Compliance Index rising from 49.5% to 70.5%.
The signing of the IDERA (Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorization) in December 2024, would further raise Nigeria’s compliance index to 75.5%, earning the country a place in the ‘High’ category and removing it from the AWG watchlist. This development has boosted aircraft accessibility and strengthened international investor confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The Minister also spoke about government’s efforts in the Implementation of Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) technologies, a project that was realized through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to strengthen border security, enhance passenger screening, and streamline entry procedures.
Part of his speech to the global aviation leaders was the deployment of e-Gates at Nigeria’s international airports to facilitate seamless passenger clearance for holders of biometric passports, enhance data collection, and support national security operations.
The Minister also lauded Nigeria’s collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) on capacity-building programs focused on leveraging AP/PNR data for improved national security and law enforcement.
“As we gather here to chart the future of global air travel, Nigeria stands ready to support and align with innovative technologies and policies that promote seamless, secure, and efficient aviation operations,” he said.
In conclusion, the Honourable Minister reiterated Nigeria’s full endorsement of the Doha Declaration on the Facilitation of International Air Transport and expressed the nation’s readiness to work collaboratively with global partners to realize its shared vision of a connected and resilient international aviation system.
