Tag: Festus Keyamo

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Aviation remains Africa’s ‘connecting tissue’ — Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday declared that aviation is the “connecting tissue” linking commerce, tourism, manufacturing, and regional integration across Africa.

Speaking at a high-level virtual dialogue hosted by law firm Aluko & Oyebode, Keyamo said aviation must be treated as core economic infrastructure.

The webinar, themed “Navigating the African Skies: Legal, Economic and Trade Pathways for the Future of Aviation in Africa,” brought together top aviation, legal and economic experts from Nigeria and across the continent.

Keyamo renewed calls for full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), warning that Africa risks economic isolation if reforms continue to stall.

He said the economic benefits of open skies remain “real, measurable, and urgent.”

Citing Nigeria’s recent legal reforms, including Federal High Court practice directions aligned with the Cape Town Convention, Keyamo said the country is taking concrete steps to boost investor confidence and lower aircraft financing costs.

He urged African states to harmonise legal frameworks to support leasing, dispute resolution and asset protection.

The Minister also highlighted the need for modern fleets and deeper partnerships with global manufacturers and lessors, referencing Nigeria’s recent Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing as a model for capability building and supply-chain integration.

He pushed for stronger safety oversight, fair competition, and investment in local industry through MRO facilities, training centres and technical talent.

“Open skies must work for African jobs and African businesses,” he said.

Keyamo outlined a five-point action plan for accelerating the continent’s aviation growth: phased SAATM implementation, harmonised legal systems, innovative financing models, sustainability-driven fleet upgrades, and deliberate investment in people and institutions.

He warned that failure to act would leave Africa economically disadvantaged, stressing that “the alternative to open skies is unacceptable.”

Keyamo reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to modernising its aviation infrastructure, deepening international partnerships, and delivering lower logistics costs and better connectivity for Nigerians.

He urged African governments, the private sector and young professionals to view aviation as a catalyst for continental prosperity.

“Open skies is not just a policy choice, it is an economic imperative for Africa’s future,” he said. (Vanguard)

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FG names KWAM 1 aviation security ambassador after airport incident

The Federal Government has announced plans to engage Fuji star, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1, as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol, after the recent controversy over his conduct at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
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‎This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement outlining resolutions to recent cases of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports.
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Keyamo said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority had agreed to reduce KWAM 1’s flight ban to one month and would work with the musician to promote awareness on acceptable conduct within the aviation space.
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‎The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will lead the engagement process.

“The NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.
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‎”Having publicly demonstrated penitence, the NCAA is also to withdraw its criminal complaints against KWAM 1 earlier lodged with the police,” the statement read.
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‎The minister added that the decision followed appeals from well-meaning individuals, as well as KWAM 1’s public show of penitence over the August 5 incident in which he allegedly obstructed a ValueJet aircraft’s movement.
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‎Keyamo also revealed that the NCAA would withdraw its criminal complaints against the artiste.
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‎The development comes days after the musician apologised to the public, insisting the flask he carried on the day of the incident contained water for medical reasons and not alcohol, as was alleged by security personnel.

“The NCAA is to reduce his flight ban to a one-month period. FAAN will also work with the music star with a view to engaging him as an ambassador for proper airport security protocol going forward.

The minister emphasised that the clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” , warning that the government remained committed to enforcing safety and security laws in the aviation sector.
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‎On August 5, KWAM 1 was involved in a confrontation with airline staff and security officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to board a ValueJet flight to Lagos.
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He was accused of carrying a prohibited flask believed to contain alcohol, spilling its contents on personnel, and later walking onto the aircraft’s tarmac, allegedly blocking the plane from taxiing.
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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority described the act as a breach of aviation safety regulations and initially placed him on a six-month no-fly list while filing a criminal complaint with the police. (Punch)

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Comfort Emmanson: Ibom Air passenger charged to court, remanded in Kirikiri

Female passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who assaulted Ibom Air’s crew and clashed with airport security at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos has been charged to court.

Mr Tunde Moshood, Spokesperson to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, disclosed this on X.

Moshood also said she has been remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos.

He stated: “The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri.”

Vanguard reports that Emmanson, on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos assaulted the airline’s crew and clashed with airport security at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Sunday.

Confirming the development, the airline said shortly before take-off from Uyo, Emmanson was instructed to switch off her mobile phone, but she refused.

According to the airline, she refused to comply until the pilot-in-command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.

The statement reads: “This action prompted a verbal tirade from Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the purser who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw them to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her. She slapped her several times, and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.

Moshood also said she has been remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos.

He stated: “The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson has been charged to court and she’s now cooling off in Kirikiri.”

Vanguard reports that Emmanson, on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos assaulted the airline’s crew and clashed with airport security at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Sunday.

Confirming the development, the airline said shortly before take-off from Uyo, Emmanson was instructed to switch off her mobile phone, but she refused.

According to the airline, she refused to comply until the pilot-in-command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the phone and switched it off.

The statement reads: “This action prompted a verbal tirade from Emmanson. The situation was eventually calmed, and the flight departed as scheduled.

“Upon arrival in Lagos, Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark and then proceeded to confront the purser who had earlier instructed her. She walked up to the unsuspecting purser, stepped on her, forcibly tore off her wig, removed her glasses and threw them to the floor, and used her footwear to assault her. She slapped her several times, and when the other cabin crew member tried to intervene, she slapped her too. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft.

“By this time, the Pilot-in-Command had alerted airport security. Before security could arrive, the purser, as seen in the viral video on the internet, prevented the passenger from leaving the aircraft until security arrived. The arrival of Ibom Air Security personnel did not deter the passenger, as she attacked them as well, lashing out violently at both Ibom Air and FAAN security. She was then restrained and removed from the aircraft by force. Even after disembarking, she continued to assault both Ibom Air and FAAN security staff and even slapped the ground supervisor.

“The passenger was removed from the ramp and taken into custody by FAAN security and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

“Ibom Air has since submitted a report on the incident to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and placed a travel restriction on Emmanson, who will no longer be permitted to fly on any of our aircraft.” (Vanguard)