UK-Nigeria Air Row: Aviation Minister, Keyamo Fires Warning Shot

In a fiery letter, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo has unleashed a biting attack on the UK government, vowing to retaliate against British Airways and Virgin Atlantic if Air Peace is denied a slot at London Heathrow AirpUK-Nigeria Air Row: Aviation Minister, Keyamo Fires Warning SUK-Nigeria Air Row: Aviation Minister, Keyamo Fires Warning Shothotort.

Keyamo’s missive to UK Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is a stark warning: grant Air Peace a Heathrow slot or face the consequences. He excoriated the UK’s “consistent denial of slot” to Air Peace, Nigeria’s flagship carrier, despite its repeated attempts to secure a spot at Heathrow.

“This is an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and an insult to our nation’s dignity,” Keyamo thundered. “We will not stand idly by while our national carrier is denied access to one of the world’s premier airports.”

Keyamo blasted the UK’s refusal to grant Air Peace a Heathrow slot as “blatant discrimination” and “a clear violation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between our two nations.”

“We will reciprocate in kind if Air Peace is not granted a Heathrow slot,” Keyamo warned. “British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will face severe restrictions accessing Nigeria’s tier one airports from the next Winter Season onwards.”

The minister’s letter has ignited a firestorm of tension between Nigeria and the UK, with the UK High Commission in Abuja confirming receipt of the missive. Keyamo’s bold stance has sent a clear message: Nigeria will no longer be treated as a second-class nation in the skies.

The clock is ticking. Will the UK back down or will Nigeria make good on its threat? One thing is certain: this air war will have far-reaching consequences for travelers and airlines alike.