Keyamo Seeks Inclusion Of African Ministers In SAATM

The Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr. Festus Keyamo has called for the inclusion of Africa foreign affairs minister in the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

He stated this while making his contribution during the plenary discussion on the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) and the Single African Air Transport Market, noting that it is driving the full implementation and operationalization of the YD and SAATM.

He stated that African ministers of foreign affairs are responsible in drawing the agenda of the African Union (AU)Summit and thus its expedient for them to be sensitised on the need to bring the issue of YD and SAATM to the front burner for political decisions to be taken.

The minister said for African leaders to surmount the problems besetting the full operationalization of YD and SAATM African ministers will be responsible for presenting civil aviation to the forefront.

According to him, “To make SAATM work, it is not African Civil Aviation ministers alone to drive them, we need to mobilise the African Union to remove the domestic restrictions, as the political leaders in Africa are the ones bestowed with the  power to give directive to their ministers on the way forward.”

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Meanwhile,  the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has commended the Nigerian Government for clearing the backlog of foreign airlines trapped funds of over $831 million United States Dollars, within the short time of the current administration in office.

The commendation was made by Mr. Kamil Al-Awadhi, the regional vice president, Africa and Middle East of IATA, during his opening welcome address on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the ongoing IATA Wings of Change Focus Africa holding in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Spokesperson of the ministry, Odutayo Seyi said Kamil, while noting the negative impacts of foreign airlines, trapped funds in some countries singled out Nigeria and commended the swift manner the Government of Nigeria addressed the issue, thereby bringing confidence in Nigeria among the comity of nations in the global civil aviation.

The IATA Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference themed “Towards a More Resilient and Sustainable African Aviation” serves as a premier industry event in Africa, gathering aviation leaders, regulators, and subject matter experts to engage in discussions on the key challenges and opportunities in air transport started on July 2 and would ended on July 3, 2024.