With thousands of travellers who fly in and out of Nigeria every minute, the ministry that regulates, supervises, and coordinates the affairs of the industry is the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Who is the Minister of Aviation?
Human Rights Activist Mr Festus Keyamo is the present Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. He will resume office on August 21, 2023.
Renaming of Aviation Ministry
The administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the name change while the Federal Executive Council (FEC) announced that the ministry will be called the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace of Nigeria on May 18, 2023.
The ministry was once merged with the transportation ministry, the aviation ministry was made an autonomous ministry in 2019 by the president.
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Ministry’s name change
On May 17, 2023, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari approved name change for the ministry. The name was changed from the ‘federal ministry of aviation’ to the ‘Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace of Nigeria’.
Nigeria’s aviation ministry has at least 10 departments and 6 agencies that help in implementing the aviation policies of the government.
The minister is an appointee of the president, as such whatever recommendations he gets are submitted and forwarded to the president.
5 Core Mandates of Nigeria’s Aviation Ministry
1) It is responsible for the management of airports in Nigeria
2) The Aviation Industry is responsible for the issuance of licence to state-owned airports through one of its agencies.
3) The Ministry ensures that safety and security measures in the sector are in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) requirements, and recommended best practices.
4) It makes provision for aviation infrastructural services
5) It sanctions airline that violates aviation guidelines.
Parastatal:
| Aviation Agencies in Nigeria | Year of Establishment |
| Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) | 1935 |
| Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) | May 21, 2003 |
| Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) | 1999 |
| Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB) | 2006 |
| Nigerian College Of Aviation Technology (NCAT) | 1964 |
| Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) | 1999 |
| Note: Some of the agencies have undergone name changes over the years as a result of several reforms in the aviation industry in Nigeria. |
Functions of the agencies of Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation
FAAN
To manage Commercial Airports and provide service to both passenger and cargo airlines in Nigeria.
NiMet
To analyze and give a timely report of weather and climate information for the aviation industry and for the safety of lives and property in Nigeria.
NCAA
To monitor, regulate, and promote safety for airline navigation in accordance with global standards as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation
AIB
To investigate aircraft accidents and make recommendations on how to avoid disaster in the aviation sector in Nigeria
NCAT
To Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Aeronautical Telecommunications Engineers, Cabin Crew, Flight Dispatchers and several others in the aviation industries
NAMA
To provide air navigation services throughout the Nigerian Flight Information Region.
Past and Present Ministers of Aviation from 1999 Till Date:
- Festus Keyamo: Incumbent
- Senator Hadi Sirika
- Osita Benjamin Chidoka
- Stella Oduah Ogiemwonyi
- Babatunde Omotoba
- Abraham Babalola Borishade
- Femi Fani-Kayode
- Felix Hassan Hyat
- Kema Chikwe
- Olusegun Agagu
Note: This isn’t arranged in ascending order.
Sirika Hadi is the incumbent minister of aviation in Nigeria, he was a senator from Katsina North Senatorial District before his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 as minister of state when aviation was under the ministry of transportation.
He became a senior minister in 2019 after aviation was carved out of transportation. He is a former pilot who was educated in the United States