The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed why over 100 airlines have shut down operations in Nigeria in the last 40 years.
Speaking at Air Peace’s 10th-anniversary celebration in Lagos, the minister attributed the high mortality rate to challenging operating conditions and policies.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting domestic carriers, ensuring their survivability, and promoting growth in the aviation industry, according to Independent.
Some of the major Nigerian airlines that have closed shop in the last 40 years include Okada, Bellview, ADC, Sosoliso, Fresh Air, Hak Air, Albarka, EAS, NICON, Virgin Nigeria, First Nation, IRS, Space World and Afrijet.
Others are Nigeria Airways Limited, Harco, Harka, Slok Air, Argonaut Airlines, Comet Airlines, Fassey Royal Limited, GAS Airlines, Wind Air, Capital Airline, Skyline, Rite Time Aviation, Freedom, Dasab, Savanna, Triax, Chrome, Skypower Express, Premium Air Shuttle, Savannah, Merchant Express, Afrijet, Selcon Airline, Chanchangi Airlines and others.
Air Peace’s decade-long survival is seen as a remarkable achievement amidst these challenges.
Keyamo announced plans to implement the Cape Town Convention, reducing operational costs and enhancing competitiveness for domestic carriers. Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Governor Godwin Obaseki reaffirmed the government’s support for indigenous airlines.
Air Peace’s CEO, Allen Onyema, highlighted the airline’s focus on safety and job creation. The event was attended by Governor Alex Otti, Dikko Radda, and Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye.
The government’s efforts aim to revitalize Nigeria’s aviation industry, ensuring domestic airlines thrive and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
“If you look at the history of airlines in Nigeria, it is difficult for any of them to survive more than 10 years and still remain in business. We have a history of high mortality of airlines, more than 100 airlines in the last 40 years or so.
“So, you ask yourself why they died. When I came to the office, I looked at this thing and I said there must be something that is responsible for this high mortality rate of airlines. And then here you have Air Peace, after 10 years still looking fine, still looking healthy and actually on the rise rather than on decline.
“In the last few months, I have approved a number of international routes for Air Peace. So, Air Peace actually is a proud ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a government, we are proud to support our local airlines, we are proud to support Air Peace in particular because they fly our flag very high all over the world. Air Peace is rocking the world right now. They are rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest airlines in the world.
“The second reason is that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace is still alive. That is the second reason to celebrate because you (Allen Onyema) is alive today to see the progress of this great initiative. We had an example of someone who had an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), he got the aircraft in but they did not start operation before he died.”
