Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for urgent and practical reforms to unlock Africa’s vast aviation potential, insisting that the continent must move beyond policy declarations and embrace measures that deliver tangible benefits to airlines and passengers.
Speaking at the African Air Transport Expo 2026 held in Lomé, Republic of Togo, Keyamo urged African governments and aviation stakeholders to prioritise implementation over rhetoric, particularly as the African Development Bank (AfDB) advances a proposed $7 billion Aviation Transformation Programme aimed at revitalising the sector.
The minister participated in two high-level panel discussions organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), focusing on the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and strategies for making air transport more affordable across the continent.
Addressing participants during the session on market access and the implementation of SAATM, Keyamo stressed that the time had come for African countries to translate agreements into action by ensuring unrestricted air connectivity.
According to him, the continent can only achieve meaningful integration if nations move beyond merely endorsing aviation treaties and begin implementing policies that guarantee access and facilitate seamless operations for airlines.
“We must move from signatures to actual traffic rights. Over the next 24 months, Nigeria will streamline permits for African carriers, align air agreements, and lead the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) to progressively treat West Africa as a unified domestic market,” the minister declared.
He noted that improved market access was essential to realising the African Union’s vision of a connected continent, adding that efficient air transport would stimulate trade, tourism, investment and regional integration.
On the issue of affordability, Keyamo reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to lower operational costs and ease the financial burden on airlines and passengers, describing aviation as a catalyst for economic development rather than a revenue-generating avenue for governments.
“Aviation is an economic enabler, not a revenue collection point. Nigeria is aggressively driving down costs through a 30 per cent discount on statutory fees for domestic operators approved by Mr President, transitioning toward VAT neutrality, and auditing duplicate levies,” he said.
The minister further challenged African leaders and industry players to focus on measurable outcomes capable of transforming the aviation landscape across the continent.
“The real test of our success is no longer how many declarations we adopt, but how many African routes we open, how many restrictions we remove, and how many passengers actually benefit,” Keyamo stated.
His remarks received widespread commendation from participants at the expo, many of whom regarded Nigeria’s commitments as a major boost to the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market initiative and a significant step towards creating a more competitive, accessible and affordable aviation ecosystem in Africa.
The African Air Transport Expo brought together ministers, aviation regulators, airline chief executives, airport operators, development finance institutions and other industry stakeholders from across the continent to deliberate on strategies for transforming Africa’s aviation sector into a powerful driver of economic growth and regional integration.
The gathering also came amid renewed optimism generated by the African Development Bank’s proposed $7 billion Aviation Transformation Programme, which is expected to support infrastructure development, enhance connectivity and strengthen the competitiveness of African carriers.
Through his interventions in Lomé, Keyamo reaffirmed Nigeria’s intention to assume a leading role in shaping a more integrated African aviation market and advancing policies aimed at making air travel more affordable and accessible for millions of Africans.
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