Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for support for private sector participation in a bid to grow the nation’s economy.

Keyamo canvassed this support yesterday in Abuja at the inaugural flight of Air Peace from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, to Heathrow, London.

Air Peace, yesterday, commenced direct flight services from Abuja to London, making the airline the first Nigerian airline to do so.

Also, the airline is operating direct flight services from its base at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to London Gatwick.

A statement by Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, noted that Keyamo insisted that without the private sector, the nation’s economy would nosedive.

Keyamo reiterated the government’s support for private operators not just in the industry, but in the country.

He said, “If you destroy the private sector in your country, you destroy the country.

Every good economy thrives on the wealth and well-being of the private sector, the greatest employer of labour and engine of growth. We have done all we can within our powers to give our local operators the muscle and leverage for fair competition.”

The minister attributed the success of the inaugural flight to the mandate from President Bola Tinubu, which stipulated total support for indigenous carriers for the sector to thrive and survive.

Earlier, the Chairman of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, lauded the minister’s bold intervention in the sector.

He specifically mentioned the removal of the customs’ four per cent Free On Board (FOB) charge import duty for aviation operators as one of the achievements of the minister.

Keyamo led the contingent to the inaugural flight to London.