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Ikenna Ngere
Guest
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has committed to addressing the ongoing challenges plaguing Nigeria’s aviation industry, particularly the frequent flight delays and cancellations that have frustrated passengers and operators alike.
Keyamo’s pledge follows Nigeria’s recent removal from the Aviation Working Group’s (AWG) watchlist of non-compliant countries, a significant achievement that reflects the nation’s progress in meeting international aviation safety and regulatory standards.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the minister shared his enthusiasm over Nigeria’s improved ranking in the latest Cape Town Convention Compliance Index, where the country’s compliance score rose from 70.5% to 75.5%.
This boost was instrumental in securing Nigeria’s removal from the AWG watchlist, a designation that had previously highlighted areas where the nation needed to improve its aviation oversight.
The AWG watchlist serves as a critical tool for monitoring global aviation safety and ensuring that countries adhere to international regulatory standards.
By being removed from this list, Naija News understands that Nigeria has now demonstrated its commitment to upholding these standards, instilling greater confidence in its aviation regulatory framework.
Keyamo hailed this development as a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s aviation industry, which he believes is poised to achieve “unprecedented growth.”
“That is one of the highest compliance ratings in the world. Because we are fully compliant, they now trust our regulatory authorities to respond effectively in cases of private sector defaults,” he remarked.
While celebrating this achievement, the minister also acknowledged the pressing issues that still need to be addressed, particularly flight cancellations and inefficiencies in servicing domestic, regional, and international routes.
He expressed optimism that with continued growth and focus, the sector could overcome these hurdles.
“This is a vital step toward solving some of the problems we face in aviation,” Keyamo added, highlighting his determination to push the industry to new heights.
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