AfDB Names Nigeria's Keyamo as Champion for $7bn African Aviation Programme
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has appointed Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, as African champion for its $7 billion Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme for Africa (IATP). The appointment, announced ahead of the AfDB's annual meeting in Brazzaville on 28 May 2026, recognises Nigeria's policy reform efforts in its aviation sector, with a formal signing of a letter of intent between the bank and Nigeria taking place at the meeting.
Unveiled in March 2026, the IATP is a continent-wide initiative designed to modernise Africa's aviation ecosystem and mobilise private, institutional, and concessional capital across the industry. The programme addresses a stark disparity - African airlines currently account for less than 3 per cent of global air traffic despite the continent representing nearly 18 per cent of the world's population. Keyamo is expected to leverage his ministerial experience to drive the programme's implementation across the continent.
Source: The Real Media