Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s minister of aviation and aerospace development, has announced that foreign airlines will not get approval for their summer flight schedules unless they use local catering services for onboard meals.

In October 2024, the minister directed all foreign airlines operating in Nigeria to start using Nigerian catering companies for their in-flight meals. This rule was set to take effect from January 1, 2025, as part of efforts to boost the local economy.

Speaking at a meeting in Lagos on February 28, 2025, Keyamo expressed concerns that many foreign airlines were still not following the directive.

He made it clear that summer flight approvals would not be granted unless airlines provided proof that they had partnered with Nigerian caterers.

Keyamo also shared updates about the aviation sector. He mentioned that Maiduguri airport is being upgraded to become the first international airport in Nigeria’s northeast region.

In addition, he urged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to speed up the process of granting Air Operator Certificates (AOC). He suggested that, if possible, approvals should be completed within 24 hours.

Olubunmi Kuku, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), highlighted ongoing efforts to improve airport safety.

She said runway maintenance, including friction tests and rubber removal, had been a priority in the past year. Additional equipment had also been deployed to ensure safer runways.

She acknowledged that while FAAN had made progress in wildlife management, bird strikes remained a challenge.

She also shared some achievements in 2024, including the recertification of several airports and the renovation of Hajj terminals in cities like Maiduguri, Kano, Abuja, Ilorin, and Katsina. Work was still ongoing in Lagos.

To address frequent power outages at airports, FAAN has started electrification projects, particularly in Lagos.