At the 2025 International Civil Aviation Organization conference in Doha, Qatar, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Kayamo, reiterated Nigeria’s adherence to international aviation protocols.
Kayamo highlighted different achievements attained by Nigeria under the present administration while reaffirming Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to the objectives of ICAO, stating that since Nigeria joined the ICAO Council in 1962, the country had played an active role, particularly across Africa.
Other global aviation experts and chiefs, including the Minister of Transport of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla; the President of the ICAO Council, Salvatore Sciacchitano; and other dignitaries, attended the event.
The minister commended Qatar and ICAO for convening the gathering that reinforced the members’ collective commitment to advancing global air transport facilitation.
Keyamo stated that “Nigeria has been recognized as the leading African nation in compliance with global aviation standards, an achievement driven by our robust regulatory structure and the professionalism of our aviation workforce.”
Some achievements he listed include the endorsement of the Cape Town Convention and associated Practice Direction on deregistration and export requests of leased aircraft in September 2024, which led to Nigeria’s Aviation Working Group Compliance Index rising from 49.5 percent to 70.5 percent.
He also mentioned that the signing of the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorization in December 2024 would further raise Nigeria’s compliance index to 75.5 percent, earning the country a place in the ‘High’ category and removing it from the AWG watchlist.
The development, which, according to Keyamo, has enhanced aircraft accessibility and strengthened international investor confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
He said, “The global aviation leaders were the deployment of e-gates at Nigeria’s international airports to facilitate seamless passenger clearance for holders of biometric passports, enhance data collection, and support national security operations.”
Kayamo also applauded Nigeria’s collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism on capacity-building programs focused on leveraging AP/PNR data for improved national security and law enforcement.
“As we gather here to chart the future of global air travel, Nigeria stands ready to support and align with innovative technologies and policies that promote seamless, secure, and efficient aviation operations,” he said.
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