The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), has told foreign airlines operating into Nigeria to be ready to forgo the appprovals for their summer schedules if they are not ready to take in-flight caterings for their outbound flights from Nigeria. Saying it is to promote local businesses and economic growth in Nigeria.
He made the statement on Friday during an Aviation Stakeholders’ Meeting held at Raddison Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The Minister who dared any foreign airlines who failed to enter into businesses with Nigerian in-flight catering services providers with not giving approval for their summer schedules, emphasized that the policy is not about forcing airlines to serve traditional Nigerian dishes onboard their flights, but rather about supporting local businesses and promoting economic growth in Nigeria.
He therefore directed the Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Capt Chris Najomo to see to the immediate enforcement of the policy.
Keyamo further warned the foreign airlines not to take his directive for granted, saying, ” if you decide to withdraw your operations from Nigerian route because of this, Nigerian airline will be assisted to operate to their countries in accordance with existing Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA).
“I will not sign the summer schedule until you show me an agreement you have entered with a local caterers for your food. If you want to stop flying because of that, Air Peace will start the route.
“I’m not saying it must be Amala, even if it’s Chinese rice, but they must do it,” Keyamo warned.
The Minister who appreciated the participants at the meeting for bringing a feedback on the issue of foreign airlines and catering service providers in Nigeria, said, “If we don’t get feedbacks like this, how do we act? So, you have given us a feedback and we are going to go back on the field and make sure we make them comply”.
The DGCA said his agency will be taking a more proactive approach in monitoring and enforcing compliance with existing regulations.
This, according to him ncludes conducting on-site inspections to ensure that foreign airlines are indeed patronising local catering services as expected.
