Keyamo says private, public entities can submit proposals to establish national carrier

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, says private and public entities can submit proposals to establish a new national carrier.

In a post on X on Sunday, Keyamo referred to his comments made on Friday in Lagos at the launch of a book titled ‘100 Years of Civil Aviation In Nigeria: History, Issues and Prospects’, written by Wole Shadare.

At the event, the minister said the federal government had stopped funding the idea of a national carrier and would instead implement policies to help local operators grow and compete with international airlines.

He said recent reforms, such as changes to insurance rules on leased aircraft, had helped local airlines get more planes, which in turn has reduced ticket prices.

Reiterating his stance on Sunday, the minister said the federal government is open to receiving proposals from both Nigerian and foreign entities.

“The correct story should be that the FG will not invest a dime in establishing a National Carrier, but is always open to proposals from private or public entities, both in and out of the country that truly benefit Nigeria and Nigerians in establishing a National Carrier,” he said.

The minister said the government would keep working on policies to support the growth and survival of local airlines in the meantime.