The Federal Government has announced its plans to host the first-ever Nigeria International Airshow in the first quarter of 2025.
The Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while making the revelation during a press conference in his office in Abuja on Thursday, said the airshow will be hosted in Lagos come April, 2025.
Keyamo said the show will bring together visionaries, experts, and pioneers to unlock new opportunities in the aviation sector.
The minister also said all preparations in terms of space, facilities have been considered as the planning process had taken over one year now. According to him, “we expect this to happen in the first quarter of 2025 and in subsequent briefings, we will announce the exact dates. Today is just to reel out the vision and let the world know that we’re ready to roll on this massive programme and invite the world also to key into this great initiative.
“This will be the first time that an international airshow will hold in Nigeria. We all know about airshows all over the world. It brings together all stakeholders in the aviation industry and it is a place where people also cross-pollinate ideas too, very modern ideas regarding aviation. You can see in the introductory video there, some of the biggest names in aviation will come to Nigeria. They will be displaying their services, displaying their products. Also, it is intended to project Nigeria as the place where the next big things will happen in aviation, in Africa. We recognise our potential as a nation.”
Speaking on partners for the event, the minister said, “our partners in this venture is a proud Nigerian company too called Nigerian International Airshow. We are collaborating with them.
They are also driving the project with the blessing of the ministry, there are two key African policies that we also seek to promote by this and that is, one is the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which seeks to promote free trade within the African region, and also the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
SAATM is that policy in Africa that seeks to promote a single African sky where there will be no restriction, within the African continent in terms of movements.
“Our aspiration is clear: to position Nigeria as a central hub for aviation in Africa, one that will attract investment, foster partnerships, and drive sustainable development across the continent. This groundbreaking event is the first of its kind in our nation, and it signifies a bold step forward—a new era for Nigeria and African aviation,” the minister added.
Nhile assuring Nigerians of their readiness for the event, the chief executive officer of the Nigeria International Airshow, Bria Okonkwo Williams, said: “we hope to do Nigeria proud at the end of the show.”She also stated that between 150 to 200 companies are billed to participate in the event.
