Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed all domestic airlines to prioritise serving military personnel during boarding, ahead of first and business class passengers.
Keyamo made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholder meeting on preparations for Nigeria’s aviation centenary celebration and the inaugural Nigerian International Air Show, scheduled to hold from December 2 to 4, 2025.
The minister explained that the policy was introduced to honour the sacrifices and dedication of members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“This is what is done in other countries, and it is not a bad thing to emulate. It is the least we can do to recognise our serving military personnel,” he said.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Ibrahim Kana, described the initiative as “brilliant and symbolic,” noting that it would serve as a visible expression of national appreciation. He added that the directive would be immediately forwarded to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for implementation.
Kana said the new boarding policy was a small but meaningful gesture to show respect for those defending the country’s peace and territorial integrity.
In April, Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, announced a similar policy prioritising military personnel, passengers with wheelchairs or special needs, and business class travellers in its boarding order.
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