Nigeria’s aviation sector’s rating has improved to 75.5%, with the country officially removed from the global aviation watchlist.
This was revealed by Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, during the commissioning of the Juhi-2 Aviation Fuel Depot at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Thursday.
The minister lauded the recent progress, crediting the improvement to steps taken by the government, including the signing of the Cape Town Convention Practice Direction, which propelled Nigeria’s rating from 49% to 70.5% in just a month.
He noted that with the removal from the watchlist, Nigeria’s airlines now have the opportunity to access dry lease aircraft, a development that is expected to bolster the industry.
Keyamo expressed optimism about the future of the country’s aviation sector.
“Very soon, we will see more aircraft in Nigeria, and this will necessitate an increase in Juhi-2’s capacity to meet the rising demand for aviation fuel,” he stated.
During the event, Patience Dappa, Chairman of Juhi-2 Limited, described the new facility as “the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria.”