Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has urged stronger collaboration between regulators and the judiciary to boost safety and accountability.
He said fair judicial interpretation builds confidence and attracts investment in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for closer cooperation between Nigeria’s aviation regulators and the judiciary to strengthen safety, accountability, and justice in the country’s air transport sector.
Speaking at the 2025 NCAA Judges Conference held in Abuja and themed “The Role of Judges in Sustaining Nigeria’s Adherence to Applicable International Conventions in Relation to Carriage by Air,” Keyamo described the forum as a vital meeting point between law, policy, and international civil aviation.
He explained that aviation is by nature a global enterprise, adding that how a country interprets and enforces aviation laws determines its credibility and commitment to international obligations.
According to him, “When a court interprets international aviation conventions, it does more than resolve disputes t shows how Nigeria upholds its commitments under international law.”
The minister commended the participation of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, noting that their presence added weight and credibility to the dialogue.
Keyamo emphasized that judges play a critical role in defining Nigeria’s global image in civil aviation through their interpretation of treaties such as the Montreal Convention. He said some rulings have clarified long-standing issues in aviation law, while others have opened room for new discussions both of which are healthy for the nation’s legal development.
He urged continuous collaboration between regulators and the judiciary to uphold the three key pillars of the aviation industry safety, accountability, and justice. “When passengers and operators believe they will receive fair and transparent justice, confidence grows, and with confidence comes investment,” he noted.
Representing the Attorney General, Gladys Odegbaro, Director of the Solicitor Department at the Federal Ministry of Justice, stated that implementing the Montreal Convention requires ongoing judicial interpretation, regulatory alignment with global standards, and cooperation among judges, regulators, and air carriers. She reminded participants that Nigeria’s signing of the convention was a commitment to protect passenger rights and uphold safety and accountability in international aviation.
Welcoming guests, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, said that the judiciary’s interpretation of aviation laws helps balance the interests of passengers, operators, and regulators. He reaffirmed the NCAA’s commitment to transparency, international compliance, and effective oversight, stressing that “regulation alone is not enough the judiciary’s insight gives legitimacy to every step taken to uphold the rule of law in aviation.”
