Tag: Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has called for collaboration between the judiciary and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to protect rights of passengers, improve safety, and justice in the aviation industry.

The Minister made the call in Abuja at NCAA judges conference 2025 with the theme “The role of Judges in sustaining Nigerian’s adherence to applicable International Conventions in relation to carriage by air “.

He said the Ministry’s aim is to have a system that commands trust from passengers, investors, and international partners.

Keyamo, while noting that trust is built on safety, accountability,  and justice, added that while NCAA continues to ensure safety and accountability, the judiciary must ensure justice delivery in the aviation industry.

He said “When passengers or operators believe they will receive fair hearing and reasonable justice, confidence grows and with confidence, comes investment.

“So, the Montreal Convention determines the rights of passengers, the obligations and liabilities of airlines too. So, today the intention is to ensure that the judges align with our moves to reform the aviation sector because we want the passengers to have full confidence that even at the end of the day, they will get justice when they go to court.

“When the regulators and those who interpret the regulations meet and align, the ultimate winner will be the Nigerian people and the passengers.

“Every day I am sure you hear various complaints by passengers, either loss of their goods, their baggage, either delay of flights, cancellation of flights, and in rare cases accidents that either claim lives. So the end product of all of these disputes is the courts. If the regulators cannot resolve these disputes, they end up in court. So we want to ensure that the entire chain of aviation sequence ends up very well with the judiciary”.

He maintained that the ongoing reforms in the aviation sector requires effective collaboration between the the Judiciary and the regulators, adding that aviation disputes are often technical and demand not only knowledge of the law but also an appreciation of international standards, insurance mechanisms, and operational realities.

The Director General of NCAA  Capt. Chris Najomo stated that judiciary was indispensable in ensuring that  global commitments are actively enforced.

He said when laws are interpreted with clarity and purpose, it becomes the foundation upon which safety, fairness, and trust are built in aviation.

Najomo affirming that NCAA remains committed to continuous alignment with international standards, robust oversight, and transparent governance, added that judiciary’s wisdom gives legitimacy to every effort  NCAA makes to uphold the rule of law in aviation.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Lateef Fagbemi called on judges to apply the Convention with precision and empathy, while ensuring that Nigeria remains the beacon of legal excellence in aviation law.

Fagbemi, who was represented by the Director, Solicitor Department of the Ministry of Justice, Gladys Odegbaro said the Montreal Convention remains the central international instrument governing liability for international carriage by air.

He said: “The Convention is not merely a treat, it is a living instrument that continues to evolve through judicial interpretation. Its core objective remains the harmonization of rules governing liability for international carriage by air, ensuring predictability, fairness and access to justice for passengers and carriers alike.

“While claims for damages arising from carriage by air must be brought under the Montreal Convention, domestic laws determine procedural matters and persons entitled to bring up a claim. This decision has set a precedent for balancing international uniformity with local realities, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in shaping aviation jurisprudence”.

He added that the task before the judiciary is to translate the text of the Convention into coherent and predictable outcomes for litigants and the travelling public.

He urged  judges to continue to apply the Convention with precision and empathy, while ensuring that Nigeria remains the beacon of legal excellence in aviation law.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on African governments to scale up funding and collaboration in tackling climate change, warning that the continent remains highly vulnerable to its growing disruptions.

Speaking at the African Climate Forum (ACF) 2025 in Abuja, Keyamo said Africa stands at a crossroads, constrained by persistent gaps in finance, technology, capacity, and policy that have hindered progress from ambition to implementation.

Represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Direct Investments and Capital Improvement Programs, Obafemi Bajumo, the minister stressed that Nigeria’s hosting of ACF 2025 reflects its commitment to bridging these gaps — not only to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also to protect lives, livelihoods, and the future of its people.

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“Our commitment to climate action is not merely an obligation but an opportunity — an opportunity to build resilience, create green jobs, and secure a sustainable future for Africa,” he said.

Keyamo noted that the theme of this year’s event, “Bolder, Greener, and Better Steps: Closing Transition Gaps in Africa,” underscores the urgency of turning transition gaps into bridges for equitable growth.

He said the forum seeks to align global opportunities with local priorities while ensuring that no country, community, or sector is left behind in the climate transition process.

“Across our continent, we are already feeling the effects of rising temperatures, desertification, flooding, and food insecurity. Yet this moment presents a chance for Africa to turn vulnerability into strength through bold reforms and decisive climate commitments,” he added, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership in advancing Nigeria’s climate agenda.

In his remarks, Prof. George Nwangwu, Director-General of the Global Centre for Law, Business and Economy (GCLBE) and convener of the forum, described ACF as a beacon of hope and collaboration in global climate action.

He highlighted that at COP29, developed nations pledged $300 billion annually by 2035 to support developing countries in climate mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage efforts, while a broader roadmap was outlined to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually from both public and private sources.

Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo (SAN) has dismissed the growing confidence of the opposition coalition to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He described their political manoeuvres as recycled “419 formats” that have lost relevance with Nigerians.

Speaking last night on a national televised programme, Keyamo said Nigerians were fully aware of the gimmicks being deployed by the opposition.

The minister stressed that attempts to repackage outdated tactics for public consumption would fall flat.

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“I know them very well, and they know us very well. These tactics they are employing are expired. They are 419 formats that have been used over the years. I was an EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) prosecutor. I know those formats. Nigerians know them too. You cannot deceive Nigerians with these expired formats again,” he said.

Keyamo accused opposition figures of attempting to manipulate public sentiments by cherry-picking economic indices and amplifying isolated incidents to create a false narrative of low performance.

“Reeling out figures, picking up isolated incidents of some indices, and using them for generalisation are old tactics. Nigerians are wiser than that,” he said.

The minister said while inflation remained a challenge, macroeconomic fundamentals were improving under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

“The real question, going forward, is whether or not we have got the macroeconomics right. Guess what? We have. Inflation is coming down. The naira has been steady. Foreign reserves are rising. Government revenues are rising. These are indices of a healthy economy. The trickle-down effect will soon reflect in job creation and improved living conditions,” he assured.

Responding to concerns about opposition mobilisation, Keyamo maintained that the APC remains structurally formidable.

“You say they are getting stronger; is the APC getting weaker? Let me tell you… No. We have the demography. We have the structures. We are not strangers to this game. They are not bringing anything new to the table. It is the same confused coalition the President once described as ‘a coalition of confused people.’”