The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, has called on airline operators to serve Nigerian dishes to passengers on flights.
This was disclosed by the ministry’s head of press and public affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi after Keyamo received a delegation from the Lufthansa Group at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The minister, who lauded Lufthansa for its long-standing service in Nigeria’s aviation industry, also directed all airlines flying into or out of Nigeria to treat Nigerian passengers with the highest standards of care.
Keyamo stated that introducing local dishes on flights would promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage, boost the economy and encourage the patronage of local caterers. He also urged foreign airlines to ensure that aircraft used for Nigerian routes are in good condition, decrying the practice of using outdated planes for Nigerian passengers while deploying modern aircraft on other routes.
During the meeting, Keyamo informed the Lufthansa Group that Nigeria has upgraded the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri to international status and urged the airline to take advantage of the huge market opportunities, as the airport is set to begin operations on January 1, 2025.
Senior director of sales for Southern and East Africa, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, Rene Koinzack commended President Bola Tinubu and the minister for the transformative developments at Nigerian airports. He also lauded the Nigerian Immigration Service for its excellent performance at the airports, promising that Lufthansa will continue to ensure passengers get value for their money.
Koinzack explained that the purpose of the meeting was to thank the minister for improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria and to further strengthen the partnership between Nigeria and the Lufthansa Group.
He confirmed that moving forward, Lufthansa would serve Nigerian dishes to passengers on its Nigeria routes, pledging that the Lufthansa Group remains committed to supporting the growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry and its economy.
