Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed all domestic airlines to prioritise serving military personnel during boarding, giving them precedence ahead of business and first-class passengers.
Keyamo made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja during a 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.
He said the new policy was introduced as a mark of honour and appreciation for the sacrifice, courage, 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 stated.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, described the initiative as both “brilliant and symbolic,” noting that it reflects the nation’s gratitude toward its armed forces. He confirmed that the directive will be communicated to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for immediate implementation.
Kana added that airlines will be required to update their boarding systems to include “serving military personnel” as a distinct passenger category, ensure proper verification of credentials, and train boarding staff to reflect the new boarding order. He stressed that the directive is not merely ceremonial but an enduring policy standard within the aviation sector.
Before the minister’s directive, Air Peace had already implemented a similar policy, allowing serving military personnel to board before other passengers. The airline’s Chairman and CEO, Allen Onyema, said the practice aligns with Air Peace’s corporate ethos of patriotism and appreciation for national service.
According to Onyema, the initiative serves as a symbolic “thank you” to those defending Nigeria’s unity and sovereignty — a gesture that the federal government has now institutionalised across the nation’s aviation industry.
