FG to unveil Fly Nigeria Act for local airline growth — Keyamo
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that the Federal Government is set to introduce the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly, a policy aimed at boosting the country’s aviation industry by mandating government officials to prioritise local airlines for official trips.
Keyamo disclosed this during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
“We are in the process of pushing the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly. There is a Fly America Act, and I believe there is also a Fly India Act. Most major countries have their own ‘Fly Act’ to promote their national airlines,” Keyamo stated.
The proposed legislation will require that all government-funded official trips be taken using Nigerian airlines.
“Only when a local airline does not operate on a particular route can an international airline be used,” he explained.
According to Keyamo, the Fly Nigeria Act is not just an aviation policy but also a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.
“This will be enacted as a law. We are unsure how nationalism will influence its reception, but it is a key policy push from us,” he added.
He emphasised that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, with aviation playing a critical role in achieving that goal.
“The Fly Nigeria Act is almost ready in draft form. It aims to further boost business within the country, contributing to the $1 trillion economy that the President envisions,” Keyamo said.
The minister revealed that the process for formal adoption is already in motion.
“Once the Fly Nigeria Act is finalised, we will present it to the Federal Executive Council for approval. After that, we will take it to the National Assembly to ensure that local airlines are given priority on international routes before international airlines.”
The Fly Nigeria Act is expected to drive increased patronage for local airlines, stimulate growth in the aviation sector, and ultimately retain more revenue within Nigeria.
