Keyamo indicated that this decision follows a thorough review of the recommendations outlined in the Steve Oronsanye Report.
He further noted that the aviation sector is not subject to the ban, reflecting President Tinubu's commitment to fostering change and growth within the industry.
This exemption was highlighted by Keyamo during the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority in Abuja.
The initial directive, communicated in a memo last year, stated, “In light of the current economic challenges and the necessity for prudent fiscal management, I am writing to inform you of Mr. President’s directive to impose a temporary ban on all publicly funded international trips for federal government officials at all levels, effective for an initial period of three months starting from April 1, 2024.
“All government officials who intend to go on any publicly funded international trips must seek and obtain Presidential approval at least two weeks before embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed necessary.”
The minister explained the aviation sector's exemption from the directive, emphasizing its critical role in maintaining safety and international standards compliance. He specifically acknowledged the President's decision to grant this exemption, despite a previous memo.
“I wrote a memo to him after that directive on behalf of the entire agency that says; Sir, we respect your directive; yes, we need to be frugal because the Nigerian people have also tightened their belts in the face of the economic reforms that are taking place. However, because of the safety of this sector, Sir, we need to make some exceptions for this sector. And the President graciously granted this for the aviation sector.”
The minister also addressed the proposed merger of the NCAA and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, a recommendation from the Oronsanye Report's initiative to streamline government agencies.
He stated that the sector has undergone significant transformation, citing improvements in supervisory practices, policy development, safety and security oversight, regulatory frameworks, air traffic management, airport development and certification, meteorological services, accident investigation, personnel development, and the growth of domestic airlines.
He acknowledged past challenges, but emphasized the current administration's success in overcoming them through the Renewed Hope Agenda and the ministry's five key focus areas..”
The minister further characterized the NCAA as a resilient entity, stating, “NCAA is a child of God, and despite turbulent waters and attempts sometimes to kill the NCAA, the NCAA has survived 25 years. And I’m sure you know that any child that is born at the age of 25, of course, is undoubtedly an age of maturity.”
Regarding the Oronsanye Report's recommendation to consolidate the NCAA and NAMA, the proposal was ultimately rejected by the federal government following a thorough review.
He added that the report, which advocated for this merger, was reviewed across multiple administrations, ultimately reaching the current government.
The matter was a high priority for the current administration, with the president leading a comprehensive discussion and vote on each item within the report, including the proposed merger.