The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, has proposed a bill, “Fly Nigerian Act”, that will mandate government officials to patronise Nigerian airlines on international routes.

Keyamo spoke on Sunday during the ceremonial send-off of Air Peace’s inaugural direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport.

Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, and Allen Onyema, chairman of Air Peace, were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to witness the event.

“We are going to bring the bill on the Fly Nigerian Air to him (Benjamin Kalu). He will pass it,” Keyamo said.

He explained that the proposed law would require “every government official travelling abroad to patronise our local airlines if they are flying that route first, except if there is no local airline flying that route.”

Keyamo said the idea is consistent with global practice, noting that countries such as the United States and India already have similar laws protecting their national carriers.

“We have the Fly American Act. I think we have the Fly India Act. We have these laws all over the world, but we have not implemented them,” he said.

“If a government official, member of the house of representatives, member of the senate, minister, DG, or government official is flying to any part of the world, the first question you ask them is, is there a Nigerian airline flying that route?

“You must buy that airline ticket first, except that they are not flying that route. That is the Fly Nigerian Act that we want to do.”

The minister assured that his ministry is committed to ensuring the legislation is passed, saying the move would strengthen the country’s aviation industry and boost confidence in domestic carriers.