Barrister Festus Keyamo

By Tunde Moshood

History often pauses to take stock when leadership, timing, and courage intersect to alter the course of an industry. As 2025 draws to a close, Nigeria’s aviation sector stands at such a historic juncture, with the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, firmly at its centre—poised on the threshold of history after a year of audacious moves, reform-driven policies, and record-breaking milestones.

The year began dramatically, not in Abuja, but thousands of miles away at the Airline Economic Conference held between January 12th and 15th, in Dublin, Republic of Ireland—the global nerve centre of aircraft leasing and aviation finance. There, Keyamo embarked on what has since been described as a bold diplomatic and economic offensive: marketing Nigeria directly to the global aviation community. Before international lessors, financiers, and aircraft manufacturers, he presented a compelling case for renewed confidence in Nigeria, anchored on improved Aviation Working Group (AWG) ratings, strengthened regulatory frameworks, and a demonstrable shift in administrative discipline.

It was not rhetoric alone that convinced his audience. Keyamo’s presentation was backed by verifiable reforms, clear policy direction, and measurable performance—signals that Nigeria was ready to be trusted again, particularly in the critical area of dry leasing. That engagement in Dublin marked a turning point, setting the tone for a year that would redefine Nigeria’s aviation narrative.

Far from coincidence, the minister’s success has been driven by a clearly articulated five-point agenda: Advancing safety, infrastructure, support for local operators, human capacity development, and revenue generation.

This agenda has served not merely as a policy statement but as a living blueprint for Nigeria’s long-term aviation success. Under Keyamo’s watch, safety standards have been reinforced, infrastructure modernisation accelerated, and deliberate efforts made to empower local airline operators within a fiercely competitive global market. His vision is unambiguous: a self-reliant, globally respected Nigerian aviation industry that creates value, attracts investment, and competes with confidence.

One of his most defining achievements was Nigeria’s removal from the AWG watchlist of non-compliant countries under the Cape Town Convention—a long-standing stigma that had constrained aircraft acquisition and inflated operating costs for Nigerian airlines.

This breakthrough followed the decisive signing of the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA) by Minister Keyamo and the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo. The impact was immediate and profound. Nigeria’s compliance score under the Cape Town Convention climbed from 49% to 70.5%, and later to 75.5%, placing the country firmly in the “high compliance” category.

For the first time in years, Nigeria was no longer pleading for trust—it was earning it.

The dividends of these reforms have moved swiftly from paper to tarmac. Local airline operators are now benefiting from dry leasing arrangements, a development that significantly reduces costs and operational risk. In a landmark moment, Nigeria’s largest flag carrier, Air Peace, took delivery of its first dry-leased aircraft—a Boeing 737-700 from Aercap—with several other domestic airlines set to receive additional aircraft in the coming year.

This single development has altered the economics of Nigerian aviation and validated Keyamo’s reform strategy before both local stakeholders and the international community.

Beyond regulatory and commercial reforms, 2025 will be remembered for initiatives that blended vision with symbolism. In a rare and deeply thoughtful move, the Aviation Minister conceived and executed the celebration of 100 years of aviation in Nigeria, honouring 50 legends of the sector—men and women whose sacrifices and service laid the foundation of the industry. It was an unprecedented act of institutional memory and national gratitude, reinforcing the idea that progress must be rooted in history.

In another first, the nation hosted the Nigeria International Airshow, an event that elevated the country’s profile within the global aviation ecosystem and positioned it as a serious destination for aerospace dialogue, innovation, and investment.

Infrastructure development also recorded major milestones. Under Keyamo’s leadership, more airports attained international designation, including the Mohammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, and the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo. The Uyo airport, notably, boasts a 95% completed standard Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, a strategic asset with the potential to reduce capital flight and create high-value technical jobs.

Even more significant is Uyo’s emerging capacity as a domestic-to-international passenger processing hub, a development that could reshape regional air travel dynamics in Nigeria’s South-South corridor.

Unsurprisingly, Keyamo’s performance has attracted widespread recognition. Media organisations, aviation stakeholders, and industry watchers have consistently acknowledged his reform-driven leadership through multiple performance and leadership awards, citing his transparency, courage, and uncommon political will. These accolades serve not as personal ornaments, but as external validation of a minister whose scorecard continues to speak louder than rhetoric.

As the new year approaches, insiders and observers alike are convinced that 2025 was not a culmination, but a foundation. With reforms stabilised and confidence returning, expectations are high that further policy innovations, infrastructure upgrades, and international partnerships are already in motion—surprises that promise to further elevate Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Festus Keyamo stands today on the threshold of history: a reformer who turned skepticism into confidence, policy into performance, and vision into verifiable results. If the pace and weight of his achievements in 2025 are anything to go by, his legacy may well prove not just remarkable, but unbeatable for years to come.

Tunde Moshood is the Special Adviser On Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development