Foreign airlines operating in Nigeria will not be approved unless they work with local catering providers to provide onboard catering services.
On October 15, 2024, Keyamo directed foreign airlines operating in Nigeria to patronize local catering services, directing them to ensure strict compliance starting from January 1, 2025. The minister added that the policy aims to promote the local economy in Nigeria.
The minister raised concerns about the lack of Nigerian catering services in foreign airlines operating in the country during a stakeholder meeting in Lagos on Friday, February 28. “Until I see a deal that shows they work with local catering providers, I won’t approve foreign airlines’ summer schedule.”
He also said that Maiduguri Airport is undergoing upgrades to become the first international airport in the northeast. The Minister urged the Civil Aviation Administration of Nigeria (NCAA) to further simplify the AOC issuance procedure, which shows that approval can be obtained within 24 hours if feasible.
Olubunmi Kuku, managing director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said runway friction testing and ice resolving is a top priority in improving the safety of airports across the country. “We have been very consistent in maintaining a clean runway over the past 12 months. We have also deployed other equipment for friction testing,” she said.
Kuku noted that despite Faan’s progress in wildlife management, challenges like bird strikes remain. The MD highlighted the achievements of 2024, citing re-certifications from several airports and underwent rehabilitation toward the J-terminal at Maiduguri, Kano, Abuja, Ilorin, Katsina, Katsina, Katsina and other locations, and continued work in Lagos. She added that Faan had started electrification projects, especially in Lagos, to address the repeated power outages.
