Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Mr. Festus Keyamo, delivered a stern message to the heads of aviation agencies under his jurisdiction.
He emphasized his commitment to fulfilling his duties, having signed a performance bond in line with other ministers in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
Addressing the CEOs of aviation agencies at a one-day stakeholder meeting in Lagos, Keyamo made it clear that he is under pressure to perform and needs the support of industry stakeholders to secure his position. He stated, “So, if you don’t want me to get sacked in the next few months, you need to support me.”
Directly addressing the aviation agency CEOs, he outlined the high stakes, saying, “On this side, it is either I get sacked or they get sacked. So, it is a race to see who will survive. That’s what I have told all my CEOs – someone must go down first, but before that happens, I will make sure to bring you down.”
Keyamo also explained that the purpose of the retreat was to gather valuable input from industry experts and professionals. He stressed the importance of focusing on problem-solving rather than assigning blame. He highlighted the economic plan of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its alignment with the aviation sector’s development goals.
Keyamo provided an overview of the activities in his ministry since assuming office, which included inspections of airports, a task force for relocating foreign airlines to a new terminal, and the acquisition of land for a second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He assured that these initiatives would significantly benefit the nation’s economy. Additionally, he acknowledged the concerns raised by agencies and unions in the aviation industry and pledged to incorporate their input during a forthcoming management retreat to further advance the aviation sector.
