The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, says the federal government’s strategy of encouraging competition among local carriers was already yielding results, noting that domestic airfares had dropped significantly compared to the high prices recorded during last Yuletide.
Attributing the reduction to increased competition among airlines, he defended the government’s aviation reforms, insisting that the entry of more domestic airlines into Nigeria’s aviation sector will ultimately benefit passengers through lower ticket prices and improved services.
Keyamo stated this on Thursday while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, asking: “Guess what? What did you pay during Christmas? Four hundred and something, five hundred thousand. What is it now? It’s a hundred and something.
“We are forcing it down by competition. We have opened the doors,” he said.
The minister further revealed that there is an unprecedented increase in the number of airlines entering Nigeria’s commercial aviation market, citing the emergence of new carriers and planned operations in different parts of the country.
“Under the previous government, you have not seen this kind of surge we are having now into the airline business, commercial airline business, like you have now,” he said.
He listed Enugu Air among the new entrants, while noting that Caliphate Airlines was about to commence operations in Sokoto.
He stated that the new airlines were being established on more sustainable business models, unlike in the past when many domestic carriers struggled to survive.
His words, “It’s only President Bola Tinubu’s government that has made it a point, a one-point agenda, to support the sustenance of local airlines. The growth and sustenance of local airlines.”
Addressing concerns over the cost of aviation fuel, Keyamo said the high price of Jet A1 was not within the regulatory responsibility of his ministry. He explained that Jet A1 was a petroleum product and therefore fell under the purview of the petroleum ministry.
He disclosed engaging with fuel marketers and convened meetings to address the concerns surrounding aviation fuel prices but maintained that he did not have the authority to regulate or determine the price of Jet A1.
The minister attributed the recent sharp increase in the price of aviation fuel partly to external factors, including the conflict involving Iran, adding that prices had since begun to decline.
He argued that while the aviation sector was directly affected by the cost of aviation fuel, it would be unfair to hold the aviation ministry solely responsible for an issue outside its regulatory mandate.
Enugu Air, Asaba Private Jet Incident
On the recent incident where an Enugu Air carrier overshot the Benin airport runway, Keyamo described it as an isolated incident which he said was caused by a slippery runway.
He cautioned against concluding while investigations into the incident were still ongoing, saying it was too early to provide complete details.
An Enugu Air Embraer E170 aircraft arriving from Lagos recently overshot and veered off the runway at Benin Airport. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.
Following the incident, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) temporarily closed the runway for safety inspections, while some domestic airlines suspended flights to and from Benin City pending the reopening of the facility.
Keyamo also confirmed that the recent private jet incident in Asaba was a security breach.
He disclosed that the pilot and crew members of the American-registered aircraft had been taken into the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning.
He said the government was also considering the concession of more airports that were not financially viable as part of efforts to improve their efficiency and operations.
