The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered all Nigerian airlines to grant serving military personnel priority boarding over business class passengers.
He announced the directive on Tuesday, October 21, during a meeting marking the centenary of Nigerian aviation and ahead of the inaugural Nigeria International Air Show, scheduled for December 2 to 4.
According to Keyamo, the policy is intended to honor the commitment and sacrifices of members of the Nigerian Armed Forces. of the Nigerian armed forces.
“This is what is done in other countries, and it is not a bad thing to emulate. It is the least we can do to recognise our serving military personnel,” he said.
The permanent secretary of the ministry of aviation and aerospace development, Ibrahim Kana, stated that the directive will be promptly communicated to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for implementation.
He described the policy as both brilliant and symbolic, highlighting it as a demonstration of national appreciation for the armed forces.
Prior to this government directive, Air Peace had already instituted a similar practice, allowing serving military personnel to board flights ahead of other passengers.
The airline’s chairperson and Chairman Executive Officer (CEO), Allen Onyema, explained that the policy reflects Air Peace’s corporate ethos of patriotism and appreciation for national service, serving as a symbolic gesture of thanks to those safeguarding the country’s unity and sovereignty a practice now being formally adopted by the government.
Keyamo instructed the NCAA to issue detailed implementation guidelines for airlines and airport operators, covering verification of military credentials, staff training, and public communication.
Kana noted that airlines will be required to update their boarding systems to categorize serving military personnel distinctly during check-in and announcements.
He emphasized that the directive is intended to be more than ceremonial, aiming to establish an enduring industry standard.
The initiative follows a longstanding tradition in countries like the United States (US), Canada, and parts of Europe, where active duty military personnel receive early boarding privileges.
In the US, major carriers such as Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines grant service members pre boarding rights as a mark of national respect.
Delta allows personnel with valid military IDs to pre board, American Airlines places them in Group 1 with business class passengers, and United Airlines enforces a similar practice.
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