The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a seven-member National High-Level Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Steering Committee to coordinate the implementation of Nigeria’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programme and drive the decarbonisation of the country’s aviation sector.

The committee comprises the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, and the Managing Director of NNPC New Energy Limited.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, at a high-level meeting on Sustainable Aviation Fuel implementation in Abuja, also unveiled Nigeria’s National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Feasibility Study and launched the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Business Implementation Study with support from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The meeting was organised by the NCAA in collaboration with ICAO, the European Union (EU) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), bringing together government officials, development partners, industry players, researchers and other stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s transition to cleaner aviation fuel.

Represented by the Director of Air Transport Management, Alhaji Mohammad Tijani, Keyamo said the steering committee would provide strategic direction, coordinate implementation, promote collaboration among stakeholders and oversee the delivery of Nigeria’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Implementation Programme.

He said the transition to sustainable aviation fuel required collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, academia, financial institutions and development partners, stressing that aviation must contribute to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic growth.

According to him, Sustainable Aviation Fuel offers Nigeria an opportunity to decarbonise aviation, stimulate investment, create jobs, strengthen energy security and unlock value across the country’s agricultural, energy and industrial sectors.

The minister noted that Nigeria has abundant feedstock resources, including cassava and agricultural residues, which position the country to become a leading producer and supplier of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Africa.

Speaking on the SAF feasibility study, Keyamo  stated that the study provides a technical assessment of Nigeria’s opportunities and challenges. He said it would serve as the foundation for implementing the national programme, while the Business Implementation Study would provide commercial and investment analysis to attract domestic and international investors.

Keyamo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing the policy direction, regulatory framework and incentives required to support investment in the emerging Sustainable Aviation Fuel industry.

He also said Nigeria remained committed to implementing the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and other global climate initiatives while pursuing its national climate and sustainable development goals.

Thw NCAA Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the feasibility study was developed under ICAO’s Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) Programme with financial support from the European Union and technical support from EASA.

Najomo said the study provides an evidence-based roadmap for converting Nigeria’s abundant feedstock resources into commercially viable Sustainable Aviation Fuel production and reaffirmed the NCAA’s commitment to coordinating stakeholders as the secretariat of the steering committee.

Goodwill messages were delivered by ICAO’s Western and Central African Regional Office Director, Romain Ekoto; the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Tochukwu Udeh; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi; and Managing Director of NNPC New Energy Limited, Engr. Haruna Abdurrahman.

The speakers emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners and the private sector to establish a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Nigeria.

The meeting ended with renewed commitments by the Federal Government and its international partners to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programme and position Nigeria as a regional hub for Sustainable Aviation Fuel production.