“Fly Nigeria Act Now!” – Dr. Harold Demuren bombshell lecture exposes how fClarion Newschannel – Aviation Desk (Lagos, 3 December 2025)
A hard-hitting communiqué issued at the end of the inaugural SAPTCO Communication Ltd Lecture held on 26 November 2025 at the NCAA Training Hall Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, has called for urgent policy action to save Nigerian carriers from extinction on the lucrative Lagos–London route.
Delivering the keynote address titled “International Aeropolitics: The Survival of Nigerian Carriers on the London Route”, former Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Olusegun Demuren, described the Lagos–London corridor as “the beautiful bride” of global aviation because of its exceptionally high yield, massive passenger volume driven by business, diaspora remittances, education, healthcare, housing, and deep cultural ties that make the United Kingdom a second home to millions of Nigerians.
Despite its status as one of the highest-yield routes in the world, Dr. Demuren lamented that Nigerian carriers are being systematically edged out through:
Gross underutilisation of Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) rights due to fleet and capacity constraints
Discriminatory and predatory ticket pricing by foreign carriers
Return economy fares from Lagos reaching as high as US$5,000 compared to just US$3,500 from Accra and even lower from other West African hubs
Absence of strong Nigerian competition that allows foreign airlines to dominate and dictate exorbitant fares
Key Recommendations from the Lecture:
Immediate enactment of a “Fly Nigeria Act” mandating all government-funded travel (federal, state, MDAs, embassies, etc.) to be on Nigerian carriers
Urgent renegotiation of BASA terms to protect designated Nigerian airlines
Conversion of aeropolitics into deliberate national strategy through alliances, interlining, and infrastructure development
Aggressive government support and protection of market share for indigenous carriers – “You can’t be wrong supporting your own”
Development of a world-class domestic Frequent Flyer Programme to win premium travellers and unlock global alliance partnerships
Total honesty among airline staff and operators, and careful decision-making by Nigerian carriers to compete effectively on price and service
The well-attended event had in attendance:
Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barr. Festus Keyamo SAN (represented by Mrs. Obiageli Orah)
Acting Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo (represented by Barr. Olubukola Teriba)
Chairman Air Peace, Barr. Allen Onyema (represented by Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Nowel Ngala)
Engr. Kayode Ajiboye, Engr. Babatunde Obadofin (Aero Consult), aviation icon Mr. Chris Aligbe, Mr. Johnson Adekola, and numerous industry stakeholders.
High Point of the Event
The occasion also marked the formal unveiling of SAPTCO Communication Ltd, a new specialist aviation public relations and communication consultancy founded by the immediate-past spokesman of the NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye.
In his vote of thanks, Mr. Adurogboye, now Managing Director/CEO of SAPTCO Communication Ltd, expressed profound gratitude to all dignitaries and promised never to let the industry down in delivering world-class communication services.
The communiqué stressed that Nigeria can only survive and thrive in global aviation by turning aeropolitics into strategy, leveraging its high-value routes, building alliances, upgrading infrastructure, and formulating bold policies that allow Nigerian carriers to compete – and win.
Signed:
SAPTCO Management
“Fly Nigeria Act Now!” – Dr. Harold Demuren bombshell lecture exposes how foreign airlines rip off Nigerians with $5,000 Lagos-London tickets while Accra pays $3,500
