BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nigeria has called on African governments to urgently dismantle long-standing aviation barriers and warned that the continent’s economic ambitions will remain stunted without seamless air connectivity linking its people, markets, and industries.
Delivering a keynote on behalf of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, told a high-level gathering in Abuja that aviation must now be treated as a strategic economic engine rather than a luxury service.
The address, presented at the annual lecture of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, laid out a compelling case for urgent reforms to unlock Africa’s vast but underutilised potential.
“Africa’s transformation will not happen in isolation. It will be powered by connectivity, efficient, affordable, and sustainable movement of people, goods, and ideas across borders,” the minister said.
He argued that for a continent where poor rail and road integration still limits trade, aviation offers the fastest and most effective bridge between economies.
From boosting tourism and trade to improving healthcare access and strengthening regional supply chains, air transport, he said, sits at the centre of modern economic development.
Yet, despite its importance, Africa remains one of the least connected regions globally, a reality the minister described as both unsustainable and costly.
Central to his message was a renewed push for full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the Yamoussoukro Decision, two landmark frameworks designed to liberalise air travel across the continent.
While acknowledging that progress has been slow, he stressed that the benefits of liberalisation are undeniable.
Increased competition, he noted, would drive down ticket prices, expand route networks, stimulate tourism, and unlock new trade corridors.
“Connectivity creates opportunity. When flights increase, investments follow. When investments grow, jobs are created. And when jobs are created, prosperity expands,”he said
But beyond policy declarations, the minister insisted that real progress depends on practical reforms anchored on three pillars: legal certainty, commercial strength, and institutional trust.
On legal clarity, he highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its aviation framework, particularly in aligning with global standards under the Cape Town Convention.
These reforms, he explained, are already improving investor confidence by reducing risks associated with aircraft leasing and financing.
“Modern aviation runs on trust, trust in legal systems, regulatory institutions, and contractual enforcement,” he said, urging other African nations to pursue harmonised legal systems that can attract global capital.
Equally critical, he noted, is the need to build commercially viable airlines. Open skies alone, he warned, will not deliver results if African carriers lack the capacity to compete.
To address this, Nigeria is actively pursuing strategic partnerships, including a recent agreement with Boeing, aimed at boosting technical expertise, training, and local industry participation.
“These partnerships must go beyond transactions,” he said. “They must build skills, transfer knowledge, and strengthen Africa’s aviation value chain.”
At the same time, the minister cautioned against a model of liberalisation that leaves African carriers vulnerable to foreign dominance.
He called for deliberate policies to grow local capacity in key areas such as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), pilot training, and aviation engineering.
“Africa must not become just a market, it must become a producer, a competitor, and a leader,” he declared.
To fast-track progress, he outlined a five-point action plan: accelerate SAATM implementation, harmonise legal and regulatory frameworks, unlock innovative financing models, integrate sustainability into aviation development, and invest heavily in human capital.
He also addressed concerns about resistance to reform, acknowledging fears around competition and national interest.
However, he maintained that the greater risk lies in maintaining the status quo.
“The real danger is not reform, it is stagnation,” he warned. “Every year of inaction costs Africa billions in lost opportunities.”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment, the minister said the country remains focused on building a modern, inclusive aviation sector that delivers real benefits to its citizens—from lower airfares to better connectivity and job creation.
He called on African governments, private investors, and development partners to deepen collaboration, stressing that the success of the continent’s aviation agenda depends on collective action.
In a nod to the future, he urged young Africans to see aviation and aerospace as sectors of opportunity, capable of driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and skilled employment.
Closing on a note of urgency, the minister framed the moment as a turning point for Africa.
“The frameworks exist. The opportunities are clear. What remains is the will to act,” he said.
“A connected Africa is a prosperous Africa. The time to open our skies, and our economies, is now”, he said.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
