The Federal Government is set to introduce the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly, a policy designed to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector by mandating government officials to prioritize local airlines for official travel.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made this announcement on Thursday during the 2025 ministerial press briefing 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 make it compulsory for all government-funded official trips to be taken using Nigerian airlines, except in cases where a local carrier does not operate on the required route.
“Only when a local airline does not operate on a particular route can an international airline be used,” he clarified.
Beyond its impact on aviation, Keyamo highlighted the economic significance of the policy, describing it as a strategic move to boost national revenue and 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 noted.
He further emphasized that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy, with aviation playing a crucial role.
“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,” he added.
Keyamo also revealed that the process for formal adoption is underway.
“Once the Fly Nigeria Act is finalized, we will present it to FEC (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 help retain more revenue within the country.
