Following the directive by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, mandating the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure foreign carriers patronize local caterers for on-board meals starting January 1, 2025, the minister has defended his decision.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Keyamo emphasized that the long-standing practice of foreign airlines serving reheated meals on outbound flights to Nigerian passengers is no longer acceptable. He argued that this change is necessary to boost Nigeria's economy by supporting local businesses.
Keyamo clarified the directive, stating: "This is to clarify that directing foreign airlines on outbound flights to patronize our local caterers is not the same as instructing them to serve local dishes. Our local caterers can also prepare continental dishes or any meals as per the airlines' specifications. The age-old practice of bringing frozen meals from their countries and then warming and serving them on outbound flights, predominantly to our own citizens, is no longer acceptable."
Addressing concerns about food safety, he assured that Nigeria has quality control agencies capable of ensuring the hygiene and safety of the meals prepared by local caterers. He further emphasized the need for mutual trust between Nigeria and foreign airlines, stating, "If they expect us to trust the quality of food they bring into our country to serve our citizens, then they should also trust the process we have for vetting meals prepared by our local caterers."
Keyamo concluded by underscoring the importance of supporting local businesses, stating, "With our huge population and traffic, it's essential that other caterers from different regions do not benefit from opportunities that should contribute to our local economy."
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