The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has declared that the practice of foreign airlines serving reheated frozen meals to Nigerian passengers on outbound flights will no longer be tolerated, effective January 1, 2025.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, Keyamo explained that while foreign airlines are now required to patronise local caterers, this does not mean they must serve local dishes.
He clarified that local caterers can prepare a range of meals, including continental options, in line with the airlines’ preferences.
“The age-old practice of bringing frozen meals from their countries and then warming and serving them on outbound flights, predominantly to our own citizens, is no longer acceptable,” Keyamo wrote, emphasising the need for foreign carriers to support local businesses as part of efforts to boost Nigeria’s economy.
Addressing potential concerns over food quality and safety, the Minister assured that Nigeria has robust quality control measures in place, stating, “If they expect us to trust the quality of food they bring into our country to serve our citizens, then they should also trust the process we have for vetting meals prepared by our local caterers.”
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