.31, July 2026
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that increased competition in Nigeria’s aviation sector is helping to reduce the cost of domestic airfares, in response to public complaints about high flight costs.
Keyamo made this known on Thursday during a live appearance on Channels Television’s _Politics Today_.
The minister said fares have dropped significantly compared to what passengers paid during the last Christmas period, linking the decline directly to more airlines entering the market.
“Guess what? What did you pay during Christmas? Four hundred and something, five hundred thousand. What is it now? It’s a hundred and something. We are forcing it down by competition. We have opened the doors,” he said.
Keyamo noted there is an unprecedented increase in the number of airlines entering Nigeria’s commercial aviation space. According to him, this level of growth was not seen under the previous administration.
He cited Enugu Air as one of the new carriers already operating, and disclosed that Caliphate Airlines is set to begin operations in Sokoto.
The minister added that the new airlines are being built on more sustainable business models, unlike previous domestic carriers that struggled to remain in business.
“It’s only President Bola Tinubu’s government that has made it a point, a one-point agenda, to support the sustenance of local airlines. The growth and sustenance of local airlines,” Keyamo stated.
Addressing concerns over the high cost of Jet A1, the minister said the price of aviation fuel is not within the regulatory mandate of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
He explained that Jet A1 is a petroleum product and therefore falls under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. While acknowledging that he had met with fuel marketers and convened discussions on the issue, he maintained that his ministry has no authority to regulate or fix Jet A1 prices.
Keyamo attributed the recent spike in aviation fuel prices partly to external factors, including the conflict involving Iran, and noted that prices have started to decline. He said it would be unfair to hold the aviation ministry solely responsible for a challenge outside its jurisdiction, even though the sector is directly affected by fuel costs.
Speaking on the recent Enugu Air incident, Keyamo described it as an isolated case caused by a slippery runway. He urged caution in drawing conclusions while investigations are ongoing.
An Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft arriving from Lagos recently overshot and veered off the runway at Benin Airport. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. Following the incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria temporarily closed the runway for safety checks, and some domestic airlines suspended flights to and from Benin City pending its reopening.
The minister also confirmed that the recent private jet incident in Asaba was a security breach. He said the pilot and crew members of the American-registered aircraft have been taken into custody by the Department of State Services for questioning.
Keyamo further disclosed that the federal government is considering the concession of more airports that are not financially viable, as part of efforts to improve efficiency and operations across the country.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting local airlines and creating an enabling environment for competition, which he said will continue to push fares down for Nigerians.
