Federal Government is set to introduce a new law that will mandate all public officials to fly with Nigerian-owned airlines when travelling abroad on routes served by local carriers.
Gatekeepers News reports that Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, revealed the proposal known as “Fly Nigerian Act” on Sunday during the ceremonial flag-off of Air Peace’s inaugural direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport.
The event was attended by Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace.
Keyamo explained that the bill would be presented to the National Assembly through Kalu, expressing confidence in its passage.
He stated that the proposed law seeks to ensure that every government official travelling overseas must first patronise a Nigerian airline flying that route, except where no local carrier operates the destination.
The minister noted that the initiative aligns with global practice, citing similar laws such as the “Fly America Act” in the United States and the “Fly India Act” in India.
He added, “If a government official, member of the house of representatives, member of the senate, minister, DG, or government official is flying to any part of the world, the first question you ask them is, is there a Nigerian airline flying that route?”
“You must buy that airline ticket first, except that they are not flying that route. That is the Fly Nigerian Act that we want to do.”
Keyamo reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to seeing the bill enacted, saying it would strengthen the country’s aviation sector, promote national carriers, and inspire greater confidence in domestic airlines.
