Keyamo Urges Private Sector Support as Air Peace Launches Abuja–London Route
By Olusegun Koiki, Lagos

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for increased private sector involvement to drive Nigeria’s economic growth.

Keyamo made the call on Sunday in Abuja during the inaugural flight of Air Peace from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to London Heathrow. The flight marks a historic milestone as Air Peace becomes the first Nigerian airline to operate direct flights from Abuja to London. The airline also runs direct services from Lagos to London Gatwick.

In a statement by his media aide, Tunde Moshood, Keyamo stressed that the private sector remains the backbone of any thriving economy, emphasizing that “if you destroy the private sector in your country, you destroy the country.”

He highlighted the government’s renewed commitment to supporting local operators to ensure fair competition in the aviation industry.

“For nearly 90 years, international airlines have operated in Nigeria without meaningful participation from our local carriers,” he said. “Today marks a new dawn, we now have access, capacity, and a slot at Heathrow.”

Keyamo credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration for mandating full support for indigenous airlines, noting that the government’s intervention was vital to reversing the collapse of over 100 Nigerian airlines in the last four decades.

He listed defunct carriers such as Concord, Belview, Sosoliso, and Chanchangi as victims of inadequate government backing, pledging continued support for local operators to thrive.

Air Peace Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, commended Keyamo’s efforts, particularly his decision to remove the Customs’ 4% Free On Board (FOB) import duty for aviation operators, a move Onyema described as a “game changer” for the industry.

“When the government listens to the needs of its people and acts promptly, it builds confidence,” Onyema said. “The minister’s actions have benefited not just Air Peace but the entire aviation sector.”

Keyamo led a Nigerian delegation on the maiden Air Peace flight to London, symbolizing a new chapter for the nation’s aviation industry and indigenous participation in global air transport.