The African Development Bank (AfDB) has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to lead its $7 billion Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme for Africa.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister.
According to the statement, the appointment is part of AfDB’s broader strategy to modernise Africa’s aviation sector, strengthen infrastructure, and attract private and institutional investment across the continent.
The initiative positions Nigeria at the centre of a continent-wide aviation reform agenda aimed at improving regional connectivity and expanding air travel across African countries.
The AfDB said Keyamo was selected based on Nigeria’s leadership role and reform efforts in the aviation industry, describing him as a key figure expected to help drive implementation of the programme.
“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,” the statement said.
The programme, known as the Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme for Africa (IATP), is valued at $7 billion and is designed to accelerate aviation development across the continent.
African carriers currently account for less than 3 per cent of global air traffic, despite the continent’s population size — a gap the initiative seeks to close through structural reforms and investment.
The AfDB has invited Keyamo to its Annual Meeting in Brazzaville scheduled for May 28, 2026, where a formal Letter of Intent between the bank and Nigeria is expected to be signed.
The IATP was previously unveiled at the Airlines, Capital and Connectivity Forum in Nairobi as a continent-wide plan to modernise aviation systems and improve efficiency.
The programme is built around three key pillars:
It supports the full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to liberalise air travel across Africa and strengthen regional integration.
It aims to improve aviation safety oversight and regulatory compliance across member states.
It focuses on developing aviation skills to enhance workforce capacity and sector productivity.
AfDB officials said the initiative will make African aviation more competitive, integrated and climate-conscious, while also improving aircraft financing access and upgrading airport infrastructure.
The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship African Union Agenda 2063 project, seeks to create a unified air transport system across Africa, promoting open skies, boosting tourism, trade, and economic integration.
Nigeria is among 34 African countries that have signed onto the agreement, representing more than 80 per cent of Africa’s aviation market.
The Federal Government has also expressed support for its implementation as part of broader regional aviation reforms.
