Once again, the Nigerian government is flirting with another ill-conceived and pig-headed policy cloaked in nationalism, but destined to be yet another flawed misstep in governance. In a breathtaking display of incompetence, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister, Festus Keyamo, recently announced a move to legislate the so-called “Fly Nigeria Act,” a ludicrous proposal mandating all government-funded trips whether domestic, regional, or international, including connecting flights, prioritize Nigerian flag carriers. While the rhetoric of patriotism and economic revitalization may seem appealing, this cynical attempt to exploit national pride is both myopic and disconnected from the reality of the aviation industry and Nigeria’s broader challenges. The Fly Nigeria Act is not just a bad policy; it is an affront and a slap in the face of every Nigerian who has endured the delays, canceled flights, chaos, inefficiency, and outright indignity of the country’s crumbling aviation sector. It is also a testament to the government’s inability or unwillingness to tackle real problems. This madness must be rejected in its entirety.
In a memo to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Keyamo underscored the importance of utilizing Nigeria’s resources to patronize local carriers. “The summary of the Fly Nigeria Act is that every government-funded trip, whether from a ministry or agency, must patronize the Nigerian flag carrier first before any foreign carrier,” Keyamo stated. He explained further that this prioritization extends to connecting flights as well. “If you are travelling to the US through London, and the first leg of that trip has a Nigerian flag carrier flying the route, you must use the Nigerian carrier for that leg before connecting to an international carrier.” Keyamo described the Fly Nigeria Act as a bold initiative to support the country’s aviation industry, which he referred to as a “vital pillar of the Nigerian economy.”
Keyamo’s rhetoric about the aviation sector being a “vital pillar of the Nigerian economy” would be laughable if it weren’t so insulting. How can he extol the virtues of a sector that is a national disgrace and global embarrassment? Nigerian flag carriers are plagued by chronic delays, abysmal customer service, financial mismanagement, and safety concerns that would make any reasonable traveler shudder. Rather than fix these glaring issues, the Act seeks to coerce government travelers into enduring subpar services in the name of “patriotism.” True patriotism does not mean settling for mediocrity; it means striving for excellence. Keyamo’s policy does the exact opposite. It rewards failure, entrenches inefficiency, and shields Nigerian airlines from the competitive pressures that drive reforms, innovation and improvement. If these carriers cannot survive without government-mandated patronage, then they are not worth saving.
Keyamo claims this Act will revitalize the aviation industry, but in truth, it is nothing more than a clumsy, nationalist smokescreen to disguise the failures of his ministry and the broader government. Let’s call it what it is: a desperate attempt to artificially prop up a dying sector riddled with rot, bankrupt airlines, unsafe airports, and a lack of modern infrastructure. What kind of economic revitalization relies on forced patronage and coerced loyalty instead of genuine competitiveness? If Nigerian flag carriers are as vital and capable as Keyamo claims, why do they need legislative force to attract passengers? This Act is a band-aid solution for a terminal illness that does nothing to address the structural inefficiencies, mismanagement, and lack of service quality that plague many Nigerian airlines. It is akin to rewarding mediocrity while penalizing Nigerians who deserve better.
International travel is a complex and competitive industry where passenger loyalty is earned through reliability, safety, and quality service. Nigerian carriers lag far behind their global counterparts in all these metrics. By mandating their use for government-funded trips, the Fly Nigeria Act will burden travelers with poor services, delayed flights, and potentially unsafe conditions, all in the name of “patriotism.” The proposal to prioritize Nigerian carriers for connecting flights is equally laughable. Imagine forcing a traveler heading to the United States to endure a substandard domestic flight before switching to an international airline. This adds logistical inefficiencies and require robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance, which can be administratively burdensome and costly. The notion that this Act will “stimulate the local economy” is a blatant lie. The only people who stand to benefit are the airline executives and politically connected stakeholders who will pocket taxpayers’ money while delivering nothing of value in return. Ordinary Nigerians will gain nothing from this farce. Keyamo’s claim that the Act will create demand for unserved routes is another insult to our intelligence. How can you create demand for something no one wants? Nigerian airlines are not failing because Nigerians refuse to fly; they are failing because they are unworthy of trust. Passengers avoid them not out of disloyalty but out of self-preservation.
The audacity of Keyamo to compare this sham to successful aviation policies in other countries is staggering. Nigerian airlines operate “flying coffins” and do not meet the most basic international standards for reliability, safety, or service. Forcing government travelers to endure these substandard conditions will not magically transform them into world-class carriers. Instead, it will further tarnish Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage. Imagine the humiliation of a Nigerian delegation arriving late to an international conference because their “flag carrier” couldn’t maintain its schedule. This is not nation-building; it is national self-sabotage. Instead of making Nigerian carriers competitive, the policy is a lazy attempt to create a captive market, that will line the pockets of a privileged few while doing nothing to uplift the aviation sector as a whole. The Act reeks of the same protectionist policies that have stunted Nigeria’s growth in other industries. Forcing loyalty to poorly run domestic enterprises only fosters complacency and corruption. It discourages innovation and ensures Nigerian carriers will never reach the standards required to compete globally.
This proposal also reveals a troubling lack of priorities. At a time when Nigeria faces existential crises – rampant insecurity, crippling inflation, decaying infrastructure, crumbling healthcare and education systems and widespread poverty – Keyamo has the gall to focus on legislating flight preferences for government officials who are insulated from the struggles of everyday Nigerians. This is a glaring case of misplaced priorities and gross dereliction of duty. Instead of wasting time and resources on this charade, Keyamo should be addressing the systemic failures that have made Nigerian airlines a last resort for travelers. Rather than mandate patronage for failing flag carriers, why not invest in modernizing airports, enforcing safety regulations, and fostering partnerships with global carriers so Nigerian airlines can learn from global leaders? Why not root out corruption and mismanagement that have stifled progress in the sector for decades?
Keyamo’s ridiculous defense of local caterers for in-flight meals, as if that would save the aviation sector, is laughably symbolic and the height of absurdity. Nigerians want safe, efficient, and reliable air travel, not a plate of Amala or Eba and Ogbono soup or Tuwo shinkafa or Nkwobi or jollof rice at 30,000 feet. If Keyamo and his colleagues truly care about revitalizing the aviation sector, let them lead by example. Let them fly exclusively on Nigerian carriers for all their travels and publicly document their experiences. Let them endure the delays, cancellations, and substandard services they now seek to impose on others. Until then, Nigerians should see this Act for what it is: a cynical, self-serving ploy that sacrifices the nation’s progress on the altar of expediency. We deserve better. The government owes us better. And we will not settle for less. The Fly Nigeria Act is a desperate ploy to sidestep the real work of fixing Nigeria’s aviation sector. It will not foster economic growth or national pride. Instead, it will perpetuate inefficiency, inconvenience travelers, and further erode public trust in government policies. Keyamo must shelve this ill-advised policy and focus on the hard work of revitalizing the aviation sector. Nigerians deserve an aviation industry that competes on the global stage, not one that leans on the crutch of government-imposed patronage. Anything less is an insult to Nigerians at home and abroad.
