By Ajewole Joshua|ABNews| December 3, 2025
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has reacted to what he described as a misrepresentation of his comments by some national newspapers over the just-concluded Nigeria International Airshow.
In a clarification made available to ABNews, the Minister expressed disappointment that Leadership Newspaper allegedly “copied the exact twisted story” earlier published by The Guardian, insisting that his comments were taken out of context and wrongly framed as an apology.
“For the avoidance of doubt, these were my exact words in my printed speech,” Keyamo said.
“This is our first attempt. It will not be perfect. We are taking baby steps, but we are taking them with courage, conviction, and clarity of purpose. As with every great beginning, we will learn from this experience, we will improve, and we will build upon it until the Nigeria International Airshow becomes a permanent fixture on the global aviation calendar — standing shoulder to shoulder with Paris, Dubai, Farnborough, and Singapore.”
Keyamo stressed that his statement was never meant to signal failure, but rather to reflect humility and realism as Nigeria embarks on building a global-standard aviation event from the ground up.
He reminded journalists of the need for accuracy and responsibility in reporting national issues, especially those that shape public perception.
“We respectfully urge that next time, as journalists, they should learn to differentiate between a ‘modest statement’ and an ‘apology’,” the Minister added.
Despite the controversy, Keyamo revealed that feedback received by the Ministry and its agencies showed that the airshow exceeded expectations for a maiden edition. He noted that participants, exhibitors, and attending stakeholders commended the overall organisation and vision behind the event.
According to him, the Federal Government is committed to strengthening subsequent editions of the airshow, with plans already underway to position Nigeria as a leading aviation hub in Africa and a recognised participant in the global aviation exhibition circuit.
He assured that lessons learned from the first edition would be used to enhance planning, participation, and international collaboration in the coming years.
The Nigeria International Airshow, held for the first time, attracted players from across the aviation value chain, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to expand its aerospace profile and attract investment into the sector.
