The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said that the government is committed to addressing legal obstacles that impede Nigerian airlines’ competitiveness on the global stage.
In an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Keyamo discussed addressing challenges in the aviation sector, highlighting that judges have been advised against granting injunctions to detain aircraft on dry lease in Nigeria. He emphasized the significance of the Cape Town Leasing Convention, which regulates aircraft leasing globally and noted Nigeria’s status as a signatory and ratifier. Keyamo also mentioned the Aviation Working Group, co-chaired by Airbus and Boeing, responsible for promoting compliance with the convention.
Keyamo said: “I called them and asked why Nigerians are blacklisted and why our local airlines aren’t receiving aircraft. They explained that Nigerians are blacklisted due to non-compliance with the Cape Town Convention, citing it as a legal issue.
“They bring in their aircraft on dry lease and our local, some scrupulous businessmen take their aircraft, refuse to fulfill their obligations under those dry leases and rush to court to get an injunction to stop the removal of those aircraft from Nigeria. It happened previously with an airline that I won’t mention, from 10 years ago and it gave Nigeria a bad image.
“So, they told me that until you amend your laws, your practice directions in court to outlaw the granting of injunctions for the removal of aircraft on dry lease, we will not bring aircraft into your country.
“So, I engaged the Attorney General of the Federation, I have spoken with the chief judge of the federal high court, we are engaging the Chief Justice of Nigeria. All of them have agreed. I have briefed the president and the vice president who is the head of ease of doing business because it affects the ease of doing business and all of us have agreed that it is a critical issue and as I speak with you, we are in the process of drafting a practice direction to satisfy the world aviation working group.
“The practice direction advises our Judges not to grant injunctions to detain aircraft on dry lease in Nigeria, as it tarnishes our image and violates the Cape Town Convention. Instead, it stipulates that aircraft lessees can seek relief administratively from the NCAA, which must respond within five days. Additionally, creditors seeking to reclaim aircraft must be granted relief by the court within ten days. We are making progress towards compliance.”
The minister outlined the government’s five priority areas for the aviation sector, including ensuring passenger safety, improving infrastructure, and supporting the growth of local operators. This marks a significant shift, as previous administrations had neglected this aspect.
With a focus on supporting private businesses and fostering economic growth, the government aims to prioritize the survival and growth of local operators. Additionally, the minister highlighted the need for human capital development through training and retraining initiatives to address the high mortality rate among aviation businesses over the past four decades.
