Doha, Qatar — Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to upholding international air transport protocols and aligning with the highest global aviation standards.
Speaking at the 2025 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Conference in Doha, Keyamo outlined Nigeria’s latest regulatory strides and lauded the nation’s growing influence in Africa’s aviation landscape.
Joined by global industry leaders including Qatar’s Minister of Transport, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla, and ICAO Council President, Salvatore Sciacchitano, Keyamo highlighted Nigeria’s active role on the ICAO Council since 1962 and its consistent advocacy for safer, more efficient air transport systems across the continent.
“Nigeria has been recognised as the leading African nation in compliance with global aviation standards,” Keyamo declared, noting that this progress is rooted in a robust regulatory framework and a highly professional aviation workforce.
Among the milestones presented was Nigeria’s endorsement of the Cape Town Convention and implementation of the associated Practice Direction on deregistration and export requests for leased aircraft in September 2024. This key policy move, he said, raised Nigeria’s Aviation Working Group (AWG) Compliance Index from 49.5% to 70.5%.
Further improvements followed with the signing of the Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) in December 2024, a development expected to elevate Nigeria’s index to 75.5%—firmly placing the nation in the ‘High’ compliance category and removing it from the AWG watchlist.
“This progress has significantly enhanced aircraft accessibility and boosted investor confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector,” Keyamo said.
Also spotlighted was the deployment of e-Gates at Nigeria’s international airports, enabling seamless passenger processing for holders of biometric passports while reinforcing national security through improved data management.
Keyamo further praised Nigeria’s partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, which has led to joint capacity-building efforts aimed at utilising Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for enhanced border security and law enforcement coordination.
“As we gather here to chart the future of global air travel, Nigeria stands ready to support and align with innovative technologies and policies that promote seamless, secure, and efficient aviation operations,” he concluded.
The minister’s remarks come at a critical juncture as nations accelerate efforts to modernise aviation infrastructure and governance in a post-pandemic world driven by digital transformation and climate-conscious growth.
