Feb. 28, 2025
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Maiduguri Airport was currently undergoing an upgrade to become the first international airport in the North-East.
Keyamo disclosed this during a stakeholder meeting on Friday in Lagos.
The meeting, entitled “Transforming the Aviation Industry Through Strategic Partnerships: Advancing Airport Sustainable Development,” is being held in Lagos.
He added that the recent upgrade of facilities at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, along with improved access to forex, has significantly impacted the aviation sector.
According to the minister, the ongoing facility upgrades, along with international route expansion, have led to significant achievements in the aviation sector.
Keyamo commended the upgrade of the E-Wing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Ministry of Interior.
He noted that the decision to relocate foreign airlines to operate from MMIA had been yielding positive results.
However, he expressed concern that Nigerian caterers were not benefiting from the patronage of foreign airlines operating in the country.
“I will not approve the summer schedule for foreign airlines until I see an agreement showing they have partnered with our local caterers for onboard meals,” he said.
He further urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to expedite the issuance of Air Operator Certificates (AOC) to airlines, suggesting that it could be done within 24 hours if feasible.
He expressed confidence in the NCAA’s competence to handle the process efficiently
The Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, also spoke at the event.
Chris said that Nigeria’s aviation sector was at a point where inter-agency partnerships, regulatory bodies, trade unions, investors, and operators were critical for sustainable development.
Najomo noted that the authority’s various engagements with stakeholders had yielded positive results in areas such as staff welfare, infrastructure development, the civil aviation master plan, safety and regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and market competitiveness.
The director-general also disclosed that the NCAA had issued five Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) to airline operators in the last 12 months.
He attributed this achievement to a more seamless and less cumbersome certification process, made possible by the deployment of technology and specialised committees.
Speaking on the age and maintenance of aircraft, Najomo emphasised that an aircraft’s age was less significant than its maintenance schedule.
“The age of an aircraft is measured by how well it is maintained. Maintenance is key, and surveillance on our part is crucial,” he said.
He added that the minister’s efforts with the Cape Town Convention Practice had helped airlines gain access to newer aircraft.
Addressing concerns about an aging workforce and limited job opportunities for aviation professionals, Najomo assured stakeholders that deliberate plans were in place to integrate younger pilots into the system as older pilots retire.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, stated that friction tests and de-rubberisation of runways across the country had been a top priority to ensure safety.
Kuku said, “Over the past 12 months, we have been extremely consistent in our efforts to maintain clean runways. We have also deployed additional equipment for friction testing.”
She added that FAAN had made significant progress in wildlife management, though challenges such as bird strikes persist.
Reflecting on the authority’s achievements in 2024, Kuku highlighted the recertification of airports and the rehabilitation of Hajj terminals in Maiduguri, Kano, Abuja, Ilorin, Katsina, and other locations, with work still ongoing in Lagos and a few others.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders in the aviation industry.
