LEADERSHIP Public Service Person of the Year 2026: Festus Keyamo (SAN)

For introducing structural reforms at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, which have made Nigeria a safer jurisdiction for aircraft leasing and financing, and for supervising Nigeria’s aviation safety rating to an unprecedented 91.45 per cent, Festus Keyamo is the Public Service Person of the Year 2026.

Since taking office as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development in 2023, Festus Keyamo has pursued an ambitious reform programme to reposition Nigeria’s aviation industry as safer, more competitive, commercially sustainable and globally connected.

At the heart of this transformation is a five-point agenda introduced at the start of his tenure. The framework focuses on strict compliance with aviation safety regulations and on improving Nigeria’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rating; on supporting indigenous airlines while maintaining international standards; on improving aviation infrastructure; on developing human capacity; and on optimising government revenue from the aviation sector.

This agenda has provided the policy foundation for a series of reforms that have reshaped the direction of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

A major achievement of Keyamo’s stewardship has been the improvement in Nigeria’s aviation safety performance. Under his leadership, Nigeria recorded an unprecedented 91.45 per cent Effective Implementation score in the latest ICAO assessment—the highest-ever reported aviation safety score. This compares favourably with the West African regional average of 61.1 per cent and the global average of 70.4 per cent.

Beyond the statistics, the improved rating strengthens Nigeria’s credibility among international airlines, aircraft manufacturers, lessors, financiers and investors, and reinforces confidence in the country’s aviation regulatory system.

Another significant reform has been the effort to improve aircraft financing and leasing conditions for Nigerian airlines. Nigeria’s compliance score under the Cape Town Convention framework improved after reforms that provided greater certainty for aircraft owners and financiers. The signing of a Practice Direction and the subsequent implementation of the Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) rules strengthened the country’s legal and regulatory standing.

The implications are far-reaching. Aircraft leasing is fundamental to modern airline operations, and lessors require assurance that they can recover their assets when an airline defaults. By improving the operating environment, these reforms have made Nigeria more attractive to aircraft lessors and financiers, potentially enabling indigenous airlines to access aircraft under more competitive arrangements.

Supporting Nigerian airlines has, indeed, been a defining feature of Keyamo’s tenure. His approach has included facilitating access to international routes, improving aircraft financing conditions, pursuing the establishment of a national aircraft-leasing company, promoting Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, supporting the proposed Fly Nigeria policy, addressing the illegal use of private jets for commercial operations, resolving operational disputes, and negotiating international aviation agreements.

The administration has also encouraged greater private-sector participation in aviation development. Projects such as the proposed Air Peace MRO initiative, XE Jet’s hangar and maintenance development, advanced cargo information systems, and planned airport Public-Private Partnership opportunities reflect a deliberate shift from government-only financing towards a model in which government creates the enabling environment for private capital.

International aviation diplomacy has also been a major component of the ministry’s strategy. Through Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs), code-sharing arrangements and other diplomatic engagements, the administration has sought to expand Nigeria’s international connectivity and to strengthen its position in the global aviation network.

Nigeria signed a BASA with Kuwait in December 2023, covering direct passenger and cargo services. In March 2025, Nigeria also concluded a BASA and a code-sharing arrangement with Canadian authorities, creating opportunities to improve connectivity. In July 2025, Nigeria and Egypt further deepened aviation and aerospace cooperation through engagements covering technical cooperation, route development and potential investment opportunities.

These agreements complement broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s international aviation presence. The facilitation of Air Peace’s expansion on the Lagos–London and Abuja–Heathrow routes, improved UK connectivity, the restoration of direct air operations involving the United Arab Emirates and expanded engagement with major international markets represent important steps towards improving competition and connectivity.

Keyamo has also emphasised aviation infrastructure and domestic technical capacity. The upgrading of Borno International Airport is expected to improve connectivity in the North-East, while training partnerships with Boeing and Cranfield are contributing to the development of specialised aviation personnel.

The expansion of the African Aviation and Aerospace University further reflects the recognition that the industry’s future depends not only on infrastructure and aircraft but also on the availability of highly skilled professionals to support aviation and aerospace development.

In aviation maintenance, initiatives involving Boeing, Air Peace and Embraer are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic MRO capacity. The development of a potential regional maintenance hub could reduce reliance on foreign maintenance facilities, ease pressure on foreign exchange and create opportunities for highly skilled employment.

Revenue optimisation, the fifth pillar of Keyamo’s agenda, has also attracted considerable attention. One visible example is the digitalisation of the tollgate at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. In March 2026, Keyamo personally oversaw the introduction of a hybrid payment system as part of efforts to modernise revenue collection.

The long-term objective is a fully automated electronic tollgate system, with revenues paid directly into the Treasury Single Account. The initiative is expected to reduce leakages, eliminate unauthorised preferential passage and improve traffic management.

Other reforms include advanced cargo information systems, strengthened aviation security and intelligence, data-driven safety oversight mechanisms such as the NCAA Flight Data Analysis Centre, and efforts to reduce duplicate security checks at airports.

From aircraft financing and safety regulation to airport modernisation, human-capacity development, international diplomacy and private-sector investment, Keyamo’s tenure has been marked by a deliberate effort to address structural weaknesses that have constrained Nigeria’s aviation industry for decades.

While several initiatives remain works in progress and will require sustained implementation, the gains in aviation safety, aircraft leasing conditions, international cooperation, support for indigenous airlines, domestic MRO development and revenue optimisation have laid an important foundation for a more competitive and commercially sustainable industry.

Through regulatory reform, international engagement, infrastructure development and private-sector participation, Festus Keyamo has injected renewed urgency and strategic direction into Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace sector, positioning it for stronger growth and greater relevance in Africa’s rapidly evolving aviation landscape.

Festus Keyamo stands out as a transformative leader in Nigeria’s aviation sector for driving far-reaching reforms, strengthening aviation safety, improving Nigeria’s global aviation standing, supporting indigenous airlines, expanding international connectivity, attracting private investment, and laying the foundation for a more competitive and sustainable aviation industry.