The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, recently highlighted the challenging environment of the aviation industry, noting that more than 100 airlines have ceased operations in Nigeria over the last 40 years.
Speaking during the 10th-anniversary celebration of Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline and flag carrier, Keyamo pledged that the current government would tackle the persistent issues that lead to airline shutdowns.
He remarked, “I’m delighted to be here today for two main reasons. First, because Air Peace has not only reached the 10-year mark but is still flourishing. Looking back at Nigeria’s aviation history, it’s clear that many airlines struggle to sustain operations for even a decade. There’s a significant pattern of airlines ceasing to exist.
“Over 100 airlines have come and gone in the last 40 years—names like Concord, Zenith, and Bellview among them. You might wonder why they couldn’t endure; I could go on listing them, as I have their records with me. This high failure rate made us question the underlying causes. Now, we have Air Peace as a notable exception, steadily growing rather than declining.”
Keyamo expressed concern, emphasizing that the situation is alarming. He explained that a recent study by Boeing indicated Nigeria accounts for 80 percent of all domestic air travel across Africa—not just West or Central Africa, but the entire continent.
“The busiest route in Africa is between Lagos and Abuja, followed closely by Johannesburg-Cape Town. Nigeria ranks highest in domestic air travel due to its large population and demand. It’s puzzling, though, that despite this high traffic, many airlines still struggle to survive. This raises important questions, and since assuming office, I have engaged with industry stakeholders to understand and resolve these issues.”
Keyamo commended Air Peace, a 10-year-old airline, for defying the high turnover rate that affects many airlines within their first decade, suggesting it has the potential to become a significant airline in the future.
Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema reflected on the airline’s journey, describing it as the outcome of careful planning and a vision to create positive change within Nigeria. He emphasized that Air Peace was founded not merely for profit but to create meaningful job opportunities for Nigerian youth.
