Aviation Minister Speaks on Untimely Death of Herbert Wigwe, Says "We were on the verge of Unveiling Something Big for the Aviation Sector"

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has mourned the tragic death of co-founder of Access Bank and CEO of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, saying both of them were at the verge of announcing ‘something big’ for the Nigeria’s aviation industry before the latter’s death in a helicopter crash in the United States on Friday.

Keyamo said one of Wigwe’s last public outings before his death within the week was when he, alongside his Access Bank and Wigwe University teams, came to his office over their unnamed Aviation project.

The Minister, who took to his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night, posted photos of the engagement with Wigwe and his team, describing the banker’s death as tragic and devastating.

Keyamo wrote: “The reported tragic loss of my friend, brother and not-far-away neighbour in Lagos, Herbert Wigwe, the co-founder of Access Bank, the CEO of Access Holdings and the founder of Wigwe University, is very devastating. He was in my office earlier this week (where we took the pictures below) and actually left my office to fly out of the country and never came back. I am also shocked to learn his wife, son and other friends were involved in this tragedy.

“We were on the verge of announcing something big for the aviation sector, the reason he actually came to the office with his entire team, both from Access and Wigwe University. This is surreal and I am lost for words.

“May Almighty God comfort his aged parents and sibling (who were also my neighbours in Lagos for many years as a very young lawyer in Anthony Village), his immediate family members, his staff, friends across Nigeria and dependents.”