Keyamo expressed worry on the lack of patronage of Nigerian catering services by foreign airlines that currently operate within the country.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has issued a warning that international airlines that operate in Nigeria will not be granted certification for their summer schedules unless they form partnerships with local caterers to provide onboard meal services.
According to Keyamo’s directive, which was issued on October 15, 2024, international airlines that were operating in Nigeria were instructed to maintain strict compliance beginning January 1, 2025, and they were instructed to patronize local caterers for onboard meal services.
The minister said that the strategy is intended to stimulate the economy of the local area in Nigeria.
In a statement that was delivered on Friday, February 28, during a meeting of stakeholders that took place in Lagos, Keyamo expressed worry on the lack of patronage of Nigerian catering services by foreign airlines that currently operate within the country.
Keyamo said, “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.”
A further statement he made was that the Maiduguri airport was undergoing renovations in order to become the first international airport in the north-eastern region.
It was suggested by the minister that permissions might potentially be provided within twenty-four hours if it were possible. The minister asked the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to significantly streamline the process of issuing operating certificates.
According to Olubunmi Kuku, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the conduct of runway friction tests and the de-rubberization of runways have been some of the most important priorities in order to improve airport safety throughout the country.
The efforts that they have made to keep runways clean have been extremely constant throughout the course of the past year. Furthermore, they have implemented extra apparatus for the purpose of friction testing.
Olubunmi Stated, “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.”
It was pointed out by Olubunmi that although FAAN had made progress in the control of wildlife, there were still issues such as bird strikes.
In his presentation of accomplishments for the year 2024, the MD mentioned the re-certification of a number of airports as well as the restoration of Hajj terminals in Maiduguri, Kano, Abuja, Ilorin, Katsina, and other sites, together with the ongoing work in Lagos.
In order to address the issue of recurrent power outages, she went on to say that FAAN had begun electrification projects, particularly in Lagos.