Taiwo Popoola
The Nigerian government has proposed to unveil the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this during the 2025 ministerial press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the policy aims to boost the country’s aviation industry by mandating government officials to prioritize local airlines for official trips.
Keyamo explained that the proposed legislation will require all government-funded official trips to be taken using Nigerian airlines.
He noted that the Act is not just an aviation policy but also a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.
The minister emphasized 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.
“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.
“Only when a local airline does not operate on a particular route can an international airline be used,” he said.
“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.
“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.
