The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday, revealed that the Federal Government is considering taking over and selling the assets of Dana Air to settle outstanding debts owed to passengers and travel agents after the airline’s suspension.
Keyamo made this disclosure during the fourth-quarter stakeholder engagement in Abuja, themed “Leveraging Public Feedback to Drive Excellence in Aviation Services.” During the program, he called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to accelerate efforts to identify and reimburse all pending payments the airline owes.
He stated that the suspension of Dana Air was a necessity due to serious safety and operational concerns, emphasizing that the safety of passengers was placed above any business interest.
“For Dana, the problem is that it was a choice between safety and disaster. We didn’t take the commercial aspect as a priority. The priority was safety. I have asked the DG of NCAA to dig deep to find out how those passengers and agents will be refunded,” he said
The minister added that the government would ensure that anyone connected to the troubled airline must settle all their debts before re-entering the aviation industry.
“One solution will also be that if the same individuals or entities attempt to return to aviation in any guise, they must settle their debts first. We should look at their assets. Let them sell their assets. Let’s cannibalize their revenue and pay people. Let’s find a way to go after their assets,” he added.
The Air Operator Certificate (AOC) of Dana Air was suspended on April 24, 2024, after one of its aircraft veered off the runway, prompting the NCAA to initiate a full safety and economic audit.
At the event, the NCAA Director-General, Chris Najomo—represented by Ben Omogo, Director of Aviation Security Regulations—reported that between January and September 2025, a total of 9,529 passengers had been refunded or compensated, with additional claims still being processed. He added that within the same period, the authority issued 11 enforcement actions and 9 sanctions for violations of consumer protection rules, and processed 515 economic authorizations.
In a related development, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) approved extended operating hours, now up to 10 p.m., for four more airports to improve passenger convenience and enhance nationwide air travel efficiency.
The airports granted extended hours are Yola International Airport; Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri; General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin; and Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
This decision follows appeals from stakeholders seeking longer operating periods beyond those available in Abuja and Lagos. The extended hours are expected to strengthen regional connectivity, minimize flight delays, and stimulate commercial activity across the affected airports.
