AM EDITORIAL: Impact Of Festus Keyamo’s Legal Skills On Nigeria’s Aviation Sector
When Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023, a lot of observers expressed reservations about the choice.
Reacting to the reservations when he assumed office, Keyamo pledged to prove the naysayers wrong. Three years after, it is factual to say that there have been benefits to Nigeria’s aviation sector drawn from Keyamo’s legal knowledge and skill.
Prior to Minister Keyamo’s emergence, domestic airline operators in Nigeria had challenges with access to aircraft from lessors due to some legal uncertainties despite the fact that Nigeria has been a signatory to the Cape Town Convention since 2001.
Based on his legal experience and influence, Keyamo got the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, to sign the Cape Town Convention Practice Directions on September 12, 2024. This enabled confidence of foreign lessors and investors to deal with Nigerian airlines, with government guarantee of their freedom to withdraw their leased aircraft in cases of default by lessees.
Since then, deals have been brokered more conveniently between Nigeria’s airlines and lessors, aircraft manufacturers and OEMs courtesy of Keyamo’s support.
In May 2026, Minister Keyamo officially unveiled the Nigeria Aircraft Leasing Company (NALC) in Abuja to help domestic airlines acquire and lease aircraft more easily.
After an over 18-year legal problem surrounding Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), which has affected Nigeria’s overall airport business, Minister Keyamo on October 20, 2026 signed a settlement agreement with Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), resolving the impasse.
Speaking at the signing ceremony involving the Federal Government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Bi-Courtney Limited and Stabilini Visinoni Limited, Dr. Babalakin said: “This is not a win for us alone. It is a win for Nigerians.” He expressed appreciation to the President, the Minister and Nigerians who have followed the dispute over the years, noting that the resolution sends a positive signal to investors that longstanding disputes between government and private enterprises can be resolved through dialogue and constructive engagement.
The agreement also creates an opportunity to advance key development projects at MMA2, particularly the Hotel and Conference Center, and the commencement of regional flight operations. Completing the Hotel and Conference Centre would enhance the airport environment and provide accommodation and conference facilities for business travelers, corporate organizations and other airport users. The project also has the potential to generate employment across construction, engineering, hospitality, facility management and related services.
The settlement also addresses outstanding issues arising from the parties’ longstanding commercial relationship, including matters relating to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), which remained under FAAN’s control and operation. The agreement incorporates reciprocal concessions and revised obligations, providing a framework for the parties to move forward.
Efforts have been made by past Ministers of Aviation to resolve this issue without success but here, a fellow legal luminary, Dr. Babalakin assured stakeholders that Bi-Courtney would fulfill its obligations under the agreement and work constructively with the relevant parties.
“We will not disappoint the President, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, FAAN or Nigerians,” he assured.
Keyamo’s law and dispute resolution skill has also robbed off on industrial disputes in aviation. Following his interaction with aviation unions, the unions in June 2026, withdrew their case against government on airports concession and signed an agreement with the concessionaire of Enugu Airport, Aero Alliance, right before Minister Keyamo.
Again on November 11, 2026, an agreement was signed with PH Airport Limited at Keyamo’s office on the concession of Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt, alongside the Minister’s meeting with aviation unions, securing their endorsement of the concession agreement, having received Keyamo’s assurances of worker’s welfare security in the deal.
Festus Keyamo’s over 32 years experience in legal practice has no doubt, significantly made a positive impact on Nigeria’s aviation industry development.AM
