Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has again said that the ‘Fly Nigerian Act’ bill has been proposed, which makes it mandatory for government officials to patronize Nigerian airlines on international routes.
Keemo said this on Sunday during the inauguration ceremony of Air Peace's direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu and Chairman of Air Peace, Allan Onyeama were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to witness the event.
“We are going to bring the bill to him (Benjamin Kalu) on Fly Nigerian Air. He will pass it,” Keymo said.
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He explained that the proposed law would demand that “every government official traveling abroad must patronize our local airlines if they are previously flying that route, except where there is no local airline flying that route.”
The minister said the idea is in line with global practice, adding that countries like the United States and India already have similar laws to protect their national carriers.
“We have the Fly American Act. I think we have the Fly India Act. We have these laws around the world, but we haven't enforced them,” he said.
“If any government official, member of the House of Representatives, member of the Senate, Minister, Director-General, or government official is flying to any part of the world, the first question you ask them is, is there any Nigerian airline flying on that route?
“You have to buy that airline ticket first, except they are not flying that route. It is the Fly Nigerian Act that we want to do.”
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The minister said his ministry is committed to ensuring that the law is passed, adding that the move will strengthen the country's aviation industry and boost confidence in domestic airlines.
