Minister Of The Year
From championing human rights to redefining public service, Festus Keyamo’s journey is a testament to an enduring commitment to justice, equity and national development.
An interesting part of that journey began in September 2019, when he was appointed Minister of State, Niger Delta, before he was redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, barely a month after the initial appointment on August 21, 2019.
Under the President Bola Tinubu administration, he was appointed Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management. The appointment was a demonstration of President Tinubu’s belief in his ability to get a job done very well.
In line with the vision of the Aviation Ministry “to be the best aviation industry in Africa and one of the best in the World” and the mission “to build a safe, secured and efficient Aviation Industry focused on making Nigeria a hub that meets international standards and best practices for the African continent,” Keyamo came with a five-point agenda focused on advancing safety, infrastructure, support for local operators, human capacity development, and revenue generation in the sector.
Under his stewardship, Nigeria’s aviation sector has witnessed a remarkable transformation. A historic moment arrived recently with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) signing the updated Procedure for Recordation of Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) document, which empowers aircraft lessors to swiftly reclaim their assets from defaulting Nigerian airlines.
With its far-reaching implications, this agreement and the earlier ratification of the Cape Town Convention have positioned Nigeria as an attractive destination for aircraft lessors and financiers. Prior to these reforms, Nigeria’s aviation sector was often overlooked by international investors due to concerns about asset recovery and other regulatory uncertainty.
Festus Keyamo’s decisive action in halting the controversial national carrier project, Nigeria Air, and addressing the long-standing land disputes surrounding the Abuja second runway have instilled confidence in the future of the aviation sector.
By mobilising resources and taking decisive actions, the Minister restored critical aviation infrastructure. A typical example is the reopening of the Runway 18R of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after about 11 months of closure.
As Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Keyamo has demonstrated strong leadership and the upholding of national pride by always standing by Nigerian carriers, in relation to their treatment outside the country. He has always sent strong messages that the maltreatment or otherwise of Nigerian airlines in other countries would attract reciprocal reactions.
Recently, the minister approved the dismantling of multiple physical checks at the airport by different security agencies, in order to stop extortion, harassment and nightmares experienced by travellers coming into or going out of the country. The employment of technology to do the job instead has shown a determination for the country to be in tune with global standards
As a lawyer, trained in the law firm of the legendary Gani Fawehinmi, Festus Keyamo is driven by an unyielding commitment to activism and the defence of human rights. He is The Sun Minister of the Year for 2024.