The Federal Government is preparing to introduce the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly, a policy designed to strengthen the country’s aviation sector by ensuring government officials prioritize Nigerian airlines for official travel.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made this announcement during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Abuja on Thursday.
“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 said.
The proposed legislation will mandate that all government-funded travel be conducted using Nigerian airlines, except in cases where no local carrier operates on a specific route.
“Only when a local airline does not operate on a particular route can an international airline be used,” he explained.
Keyamo stressed that beyond being an aviation policy, the Fly Nigeria Act is a strategic economic move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s financial position.
“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.
He also linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s economic vision, emphasizing that aviation plays a crucial role in achieving the administration’s goal of a $1 trillion economy.
“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 stated.
According to the minister, preparations for formal adoption are already underway.
“Once the Fly Nigeria Act is finalised, we will present it to the 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 implementation of this policy is expected to drive increased patronage for local carriers, promote growth in the aviation industry, and retain more revenue within Nigeria.
