Director General Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, captured the decades-long operational and aeropolitical imbalance that shaped Nigeria’s struggle on the competitive London route.
Najomo who spoke at the conference organised by Sapto Communication Limited with the theme: International Aeropolitics: ‘The Survival of Nigeria’s Carriers on the London Route’, said the reality was clear and painful that foreign carriers controlled the market, while Nigerian airlines looked on with limited support, weak capacity and almost no visibility. He noted that “international aeropolitics has never been neutral. It is shaped by power, by strategy and by national pride.”
According to him, this imbalance created a narrative where Nigeria contributed passengers but lacked influence.
Najomo who was represented by Regional Manager, South‑West (Lagos) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Oluwabukola Teriba explained that the London route has always been a global battleground, noting that only nations with strong strategy, firm regulatory backing and clear national alignment could thrive.
He stressed that Nigeria did not enjoy such alignment for many years, which left domestic carriers exposed. He noted that foreign airlines made strong gains because their governments protected their strategic interests. Meanwhile, Nigeria did not confront the imbalance that weakened its carriers and reduced national pride.
