The Traffic

"No More Frozen Meals: Keyamo Bans Foreign Airlines from Serving Imported Food on Outbound Flights!"

In a bold move aimed at boosting local businesses, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has announced a significant policy change regarding in-flight meals served by foreign airlines. Effective January 1, 2025, no foreign airline will be allowed to serve frozen meals imported from their home countries on outbound flights from Nigeria.

Keyamo's directive comes as part of a broader initiative to ensure that foreign airlines patronize local caterers for all in-flight meals. This decision, communicated in a letter to the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on October 15, 2024, aims to promote local businesses while enhancing the dining experience for passengers.

Clarifying his stance, Keyamo emphasized that the new policy does not restrict foreign airlines to serving only local cuisine. “Our local caterers can also prepare continental dishes according to the airlines' specifications,” he stated on his official X handle. He underscored that the longstanding practice of airlines bringing in meals from overseas—only to be reheated and served on flights—will no longer be tolerated.

In a bid to ensure food safety and quality, Keyamo pointed out that Nigeria has quality control agencies in place to supervise the hygiene standards of meals prepared by local caterers. “If they want us to trust the quality of the food they bring into our country to serve our citizens, they should also trust our vetting processes for meals made by our local caterers,” he asserted.

This policy shift has been met with mixed reactions. Proponents argue that it will significantly boost Nigeria’s economy by creating jobs and supporting local caterers. Critics, however, worry about potential backlash from foreign airlines, who may view this as an infringement on their operational practices.

Keyamo's directive is a strategic effort to ensure that the benefits of Nigeria's vast population and travel traffic primarily support local enterprises, rather than foreign businesses. As the aviation sector prepares for this transformative change, the implications for both passengers and the local economy are expected to unfold in the coming months. Will this bold move revitalize Nigeria's catering industry, or will it face pushback from international airlines? Only time will tell.