The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says Nigerian airlines are finally breaking decades of foreign dominance on the London route, marking what it calls a new phase in the country’s aeropolitical journey.
Speaking at a public relations forum in Lagos, SAPTCO Communications, Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo represented by Lagos Regional Manager Barr. Oluwabukola Teriba said the battle for space on the London corridor goes beyond competition and speaks to national pride and ambition.
Speaking on the theme: “International Aeropolitics: The Survival of Nigerian Carriers on the London Route”, Captain Najomo described international aeropolitics as a contest of power where only airlines backed by strong regulation, diplomacy and infrastructure can survive.
Air Peace’s entry into London, he noted, is clear proof that Nigerian carriers can compete in global markets once controlled entirely by foreign operators.
Captain Najomo acknowledged lingering hurdles, from unfavourable agreements to structural constraints, but reaffirmed the NCAA’s commitment to maintaining strict ICAO-compliant safety standards that give local airlines credibility abroad.
He said the authority will continue pushing policies that protect Nigerian interests.
The DGCA stressed that sustaining Nigerian presence on major routes cannot rest on a single airline or agency, urging coordinated support from government, regulators, diplomats and industry stakeholders.
With its large market and skilled workforce, Nigeria, he said, has the capacity to excel if all players unite behind a common strategy.
Captain Najomo added that although global aeropolitics remains challenging, Nigeria must engage it with confidence and with collective effort, the long-term success of Nigerian carriers on the London route is within reach.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen