The Federal Government has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to aviation liberalisation and stronger regional air connectivity as part of efforts to drive economic growth and integration across Africa.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said Nigeria was fully supporting reforms aimed at transforming Africa into a more connected and competitive aviation market.

Speaking at the Annual Lecture Series of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Abuja, the minister said Africa must urgently move from policy declarations to practical implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market and the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Represented by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Keyamo described aviation as a strategic tool for economic transformation, trade expansion and regional cooperation.

He warned that Africa would continue to lose billions of dollars in economic opportunities if the continent remained fragmented and poorly connected.

According to him, enhanced connectivity would increase flight frequencies, reduce airfares, strengthen tourism and improve trade volumes among African nations.

The minister identified legal certainty, commercial enablement and institutional trust as the three pillars necessary for building a sustainable continental aviation market.

He disclosed that Nigeria had implemented reforms targeted at improving investor confidence, including legal frameworks designed to strengthen compliance with international aviation agreements and improve judicial efficiency.

Keyamo said the reforms would support safer operations, fleet modernisation and easier access to aircraft financing for operators.

He also revealed that Nigeria’s partnership with Boeing was expected to deepen technical expertise, improve training opportunities and strengthen the country’s aerospace capabilities.

The minister stressed that liberalisation must also protect local interests through strong regulatory oversight, fair competition and deliberate local-content development.

He called on African governments to invest more aggressively in aviation training institutions, regulatory agencies, greener airport infrastructure and technical education.

Keyamo maintained that the future of African economic integration depended heavily on the continent’s ability to build efficient, safe and sustainable air transport systems.

He added that Nigeria would continue working with regional and international partners to ensure that African skies become more open, accessible and economically beneficial to millions of people across the continent.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured passengers and stakeholders of enhanced Ebola preparedness measures across the nation’s international airports following recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) concerns in parts of Central Africa.

FAAN said it had strengthened surveillance, passenger monitoring, and emergency response systems in collaboration with Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, the authority disclosed that passengers arriving from high-risk regions are currently undergoing intensified health screening procedures at airports nationwide.

According to the statement, passengers are being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, while any suspected case would be immediately isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with national and international health protocols.

FAAN stated that additional preventive measures had also been activated to strengthen the country’s preparedness against any possible outbreak.

The authority noted that coordination among aviation, health, and emergency response stakeholders had been reinforced to ensure swift and effective action whenever necessary.

It further disclosed that airport personnel had undergone increased sensitisation programmes, while emergency response procedures had been strengthened across airport facilities to improve readiness and operational safety.

“While there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria, FAAN remains vigilant and fully committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining safe airport operations,” the statement said.

The agency urged passengers to remain calm, cooperate with health officials during screening procedures, and promptly report any symptoms or health concerns to relevant authorities.

FAAN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and healthy airport environments while supporting national public health protection measures.

The authority added that continuous monitoring and collaboration with health agencies would remain in place to ensure Nigeria’s airports sustain global health and safety standards.

The National President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (CILT), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma, are set to headline discussions at the 12th edition of the Nigeria Transport Lecture scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Lagos.

The annual lecture, organised by Transport Day Media, will focus on the theme: “Multi-modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges & Contribution to National Growth.”

The event will hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, and is expected to attract key stakeholders from the public and private sectors of the transportation and logistics industry.

Organisers said the lecture would provide a strategic platform for industry players, policymakers, regulators, and academics to examine safety concerns affecting Nigeria’s road, rail, maritime, and aviation transportation systems.

Dr. Oyeyemi, former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Prof. Ugboma are expected to deliver keynote presentations on the need for stronger safety frameworks, policy coordination, and sustainable transport systems capable of supporting national economic growth.

Over the years, the Nigeria Transport Lecture has featured prominent industry leaders and policymakers, including former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, described the annual lecture as an important platform for addressing critical challenges facing the transport and logistics sector.

“Every year, we use the lecture as a platform to discuss contemporary issues in the industry. This year, we settled for multi-modal transportation safety because without safety, the various multi-modal transport initiatives by governments at different levels may be undermined,” Kintum said.

He added that the lecture forms part of Transport Day Media’s contribution towards building a sustainable, efficient, and globally competitive transport and logistics sector in Nigeria and across Africa.

Kintum noted that the event would also encourage policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder collaboration aimed at improving transportation safety standards nationwide.

Industry stakeholders expected at the lecture include operators, regulators, government officials, logistics professionals, academics, and representatives of transport agencies across the country.

The organisers expressed optimism that deliberations at the event would generate practical recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s multi-modal transport safety framework and supporting national development.