The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for stronger collaboration between the judiciary and the aviation regulatory authority to enhance safety, accountability, and justice in the aviation industry.
The minister made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) judges conference 2025 with the theme “The role of Judges in sustaining Nigerian’s adherence to applicable International Conventions in relation to carriage by air”.
He mentioned that the ministry’s goal was to have a system that commands trust from passengers, investors, and international partners.
He said, “When passengers or operators believe they will receive fair hearing and reasoned justice, confidence grows. And with confidence comes investment.”
The minister maintained that the ongoing reforms in the aviation sector require effective collaboration between the Judiciary and the regulators, adding that aviation disputes are often technical and demand not only knowledge of the law but also an appreciation of international standards, insurance mechanisms, and operational realities.
He, however, commended NCAA for convening the roundtable, saying it will help bridge the communication gap between the regulators and the interpreters of those regulations. He added that when regulators and judges sing from the same sheet, it ensures consistency in the sector.
The Director General of NCAA Captain Chris Najomo in his address stated that the theme of the conference is apt as it underscores the indispensable role of the judiciary in ensuring that global commitments are not merely aspirational, but actively enforced, saying when laws are interpreted with clarity and purpose, it becomes the foundation upon which safety, fairness, and trust are built in aviation.
He stated that Nigeria’s obligations under key instruments such as the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944 and the Montreal Convention of 1999 reflect our nation’s dedication to international best practices.
However, he acknowledged that conventions achieve their true force when upheld in courts, saying that through judgments, judges interpret not just the letter of the law, but its spirit and intent, thereby balancing the interests of passengers, operators, regulators, and the state.
He affirmed that NCAA remains committed to consistently aligning with international standards, maintaining robust oversight, and ensuring transparent governance. He also noted that regulation alone is not sufficient, as the judiciary’s wisdom provides permanence and legitimacy to all efforts to uphold the rule of law in aviation.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Laterf Fagbemi, in his remarks, noted that although the Montreal Convention of 1999 remains the central international instrument governing liability for international carriage by air, however the recent litigation in the courts has tested the Convention’s scope and interface with domestic law, producing jurisprudence of significance on judges, regulators and practitioners.
Fagbemi, who was represented by Gladys Odegbaro, the Director of the Solicitor Department at the Federal Ministry of Justice, stated that claims for damages arising from carriage by air must be brought under the Montreal Convention and domestic laws to determine procedural matters and who is entitled to bring a claim.
He said the decision has set a precedent for balancing international uniformity with local realities, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in shaping aviation jurisprudence.
