The African Development Bank (AfDB) has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to drive its $7 billion Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme for Africa.
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The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister.
The appointment is part of the AfDB’s broader plan to modernise Africa’s aviation sector, improve infrastructure, and attract significant private and institutional investment across the continent.
The move positions Nigeria at the centre of a continental aviation reform agenda as the bank pushes for stronger regional coordination and expanded air connectivity across African states.
What they are saying
According to the statement, the AfDB selected Keyamo based on what it described as Nigeria’s leadership and reform efforts in the aviation sector. The bank said the minister is expected to play a key role in supporting the rollout of the programme across Africa.
- “Due to what it describes as Nigeria’s ‘leadership and vision’ in respect of various policy reforms to transform Nigeria’s Aviation sector, the African Development Bank has appointed Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, as the African Champion to drive its program that has been developed to invest substantially in aviation in Africa.
- “This is the Integrated Aviation Transformation Program for Africa (IATP) for which it has earmarked the sum of $7 billion (Seven Billion Dollars),” the statement read in part.
- African carriers currently account for less than 3% of global air traffic, despite the continent’s population size, a gap the initiative seeks to address.
The statement added that Keyamo has been invited to the AfDB Annual Meeting in Brazzaville on May 28, 2026, where a Letter of Intent between the bank and Nigeria is expected to be formally signed.
Get up to speed
The Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme (IATP) was previously unveiled by the AfDB at the Airlines, Capital and Connectivity Forum in Nairobi as a continent-wide initiative to modernise Africa’s aviation industry.
The programme is structured around three core pillars aimed at improving efficiency, safety, and competitiveness in the sector.
- Operationalisation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to liberalise air travel across Africa
- Strengthening aviation safety oversight and regulatory compliance
- Development of aviation skills to improve efficiency and expand sector employment
AfDB officials said the programme is designed to make African aviation more integrated, competitive, and climate-aligned, while also improving access to aircraft financing and upgrading airport infrastructure.
What you should know
The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is a flagship African Union Agenda 2063 initiative designed to create a unified air transport market across Africa and advance liberalisation of civil aviation.
It is aimed at improving connectivity, boosting trade and tourism, and strengthening economic integration across the continent through more open skies policies.
- SAATM seeks to unify Africa’s air transport market under AU Agenda 2063
- It promotes liberalisation of air travel and regional economic integration
- It is expected to boost connectivity, trade, tourism, and job creation
- Nigeria is among 34 African countries that have signed up, representing over 80% of Africa’s aviation market
- The Federal Government has expressed support for its implementation
The AfDB’s aviation transformation programme also aligns with broader African Union plans to modernise aviation infrastructure, improve regulatory systems, and attract private investment into the sector.
