RismadarVoice Reporters
May 9, 2026
A heated social media exchange over Nigeria’s aviation sector has drawn the attention of the Presidency, after presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga joined the discussion on X, intensifying a viral debate about the country’s standing compared to Gabon.
The controversy began when a user, Amb. Serah Ibrahim, posted impressions from Gabon Airport, expressing surprise at the presence of a national carrier, Air Gabon, and suggesting that Nigeria was lagging in aviation development.
Her post quickly sparked pushback from another user, who argued that the comparison was misleading and pointed to Nigeria’s subnational airlines, including state-backed carriers such as Ibom Air, Cally Air, Enugu Air, and Imo Air. The response also referenced the history of aviation in Gabon, noting that previous national carriers had ceased operations over the years, with newer attempts still facing operational challenges.
The exchange escalated further when Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, amplified the rebuttal by reposting the thread and adding his own commentary. He highlighted Ogun State’s Gateway Airline as another example of Nigeria’s expanding subnational aviation footprint and defended Nigeria’s comparative position.
He argued that Nigeria and Gabon are not in the same category, suggesting that criticisms based on the existence of a single national carrier overlooked broader structural differences between the two countries’ aviation sectors.
The intervention from the presidential aide quickly shifted the conversation from a routine online disagreement into a wider public debate over patriotism, governance performance, and the health of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
While some users supported the presidency’s position, pointing to multiple domestic airline initiatives across Nigerian states, others countered that the absence of a fully functional federal national carrier following the collapse of Nigeria Airways and repeated delays in launching Nigeria Air remains a significant gap in the country’s aviation profile.
