Aviation News

ValueJet is preparing to introduce Boeing 737 aircraft into its fleet as part of plans to expand capacity, strengthen its regional network and improve passenger services across Africa. The airline said the move marks a major step in its growth, building on the success of its CRJ fleet, which has supported its domestic and West African operations since commercial services began. To prepare for the fleet expansion, ValueJet’s aircraft maintenance engineers are undergoing Boeing technical training in Lagos under a partnership between Boeing and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. The programme covers maintenance, safety and operational procedures for the Boeing 737 Next Generation in line with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards. Managing Director and Accountable Officer of ValueJet, Captain Omololu Majekodunmi, described the development as “an exciting new chapter” for the airline, noting that alongside the new aircraft, the airline is investing in world-class training for its engineers to maintain the highest standards of safety, reliability and operational excellence. Chairman of ValueJet, Honourable Adekunle Soname, said the Boeing aircraft represent “a strategic investment in the future of ValueJet,” adding that the expanded fleet will boost capacity and range, enabling the airline to connect more African cities while supporting trade, tourism and economic integration across the continent. With the Boeing aircraft, ValueJet plans to launch new services to Abidjan, Libreville, Douala, Kenya and South Africa, further expanding its growing domestic, regional and international network. The airline says the expansion reinforces its ambition to become one of Africa’s leading regional carriers.

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), in partnership with Ghana’s Safari Valley Resort and supported by Ibom Air, is set to hold a four-day retreat in Ghana. This is aimed at promoting intra-African tourism, strengthening regional cooperation and addressing xenophobia and other barriers limiting travel across the continent. The retreat has the theme: “Africa for Africa: Tourism, Unity and Shared Growth,” and will bring together travel industry leaders, tourism stakeholders and policy advocates to explore practical ways of making travel within Africa easier while fostering stronger cultural and economic ties. NANTA President, Yinka Folami, said the initiative reflects the long standing relationship between Nigeria and Ghana and their shared commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism, cooperation and regional integration. “From the intellectual foundations laid by our leaders during the independence movements to decades of cultural exchange, trade and commerce, Nigeria and Ghana have repeatedly chosen partnership and collaboration over division,” Folami said. According to him, the retreat goes beyond tourism promotion, describing it as “a historic handshake” that reinforces the idea of Africa as one interconnected community united by shared history, culture, enterprise and people rather than colonial-era borders. Folami said the NANTA Executive Council will also use the gathering to map out the association’s future direction following its recent Golden Jubilee celebrations in Ibadan. Discussions will focus on advocating easier movement of people across Africa, stronger tourism partnerships and policies that encourage Africans to explore the continent as a single tourism destination. The NANTA President in a lighter note revealed that the Nigerian delegation would also participate in a friendly Jollof Rice contest with their Ghanaian hosts. “I have informed our Ghanaian brothers and sisters at Safari Valley that our NANTA delegation has a very capable chef, and therefore they should prepare for a spirited and friendly Jollof Rice competition,” he joked. The retreat is expected to reinforce Nigeria-Ghana tourism collaboration while advancing efforts to break down travel barriers, deepen cultural exchange and unlock new opportunities for sustainable tourism growth across Africa.

The Director General, Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has announced sweeping sanctions against the flight crew involved in the recent Asaba airport incident, confirming that the pilot-in-command has been removed and banned from operating in Nigerian airspace. While the First Officer has also been suspended pending the outcome of ongoing investigations. Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the Airport Business Summit in Lagos, Captain Najomo disclosed that the aircraft involved has been grounded and its Permit to Fly (PNCF) suspended. He explained that although the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) handled the initial safety investigation, the regulatory aspect of the case has now been handed over to the NCAA, which is conducting its own independent probe. He also revealed that the Department of State Services (DSS) has joined the investigation. The NCAA Director General, a pilot with more than 45 years of flying experience, described the incident as highly unusual, saying he could not comprehend how an aircraft could mistake a road for a runway. He stressed that the authority would leave no stone unturned in uncovering the circumstances surrounding the occurrence before taking final regulatory action. On the Airport Business Summit, Captain Najomo praised the gathering as a valuable platform for industry stakeholders to address pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s aviation sector. He assured operators that the NCAA would carefully examine concerns over monopoly and anti-competitive practices, reiterating the regulator’s commitment to promoting fair competition, ensuring airlines remain commercially viable, protecting passengers’ interests, and preventing excessive charges across the industry.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that Nigeria currently has the largest fleet of private jets in Africa, describing the development as an opportunity to deepen partnerships with global aircraft manufacturers and expand the country’s aviation industry. Keyamo made the disclosure on Saturday in Montréal, Canada, during the Federal Government’s strategic engagement with leading aircraft manufacturers following a working visit to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre. According to a statement by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the visit concluded a series of engagements with four major aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) — Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier — aimed at improving Nigerian airlines’ access to modern aircraft, financing and technical support. The minister said Nigeria’s growing  business aviation market makes the country a significant player in the global aviation industry. “Nigeria has the highest number of private jets in Africa. That is a huge market, and we want to leverage that strength to build stronger relationships with manufacturers, create opportunities for our operators and support the overall growth of our aviation industry,” Keyamo said. He said the Federal Government’s objective was to connect Nigerian operators directly with aircraft manufacturers to modernise fleets, improve safety standards, enhance operational efficiency and promote sustainable growth in the aviation sector. “Our objective has always been clear — to connect Nigerian operators directly with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers and create opportunities that will strengthen indigenous capacity, modernise our fleets, improve safety, enhance operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our aviation industry,” he said. The delegation included the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; Nigeria’s Representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Engr. Mahmoud Sani Ben-Tukur, and other government officials and industry stakeholders. During the visit, the delegation toured Bombardier’s manufacturing and completion facilities and received presentations on aircraft maintenance systems, pilot and technical training, digital technologies, aftermarket services and aircraft acquisition solutions. Bombardier, a leading manufacturer of business aircraft, produces the Challenger and Global series of executive jets and provides aircraft completion, maintenance, training and support services. The Federal Government said the engagement would create opportunities in fleet modernisation, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, engineering support, aviation training, technical capacity development and aerospace technology transfer. It added that the initiative aligns with ongoing reforms to encourage Nigerian operators to acquire newer, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft while strengthening partnerships with manufacturers, financiers and aircraft lessors. The government said the engagements with Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier reflect the Tinubu administration’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria as Africa’s preferred aviation hub through global partnerships, private-sector collaboration and sustainable reforms. Source – Vanguard

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has led a delegation of private jet operators in Nigeria to engage with officials of Canadian aerospace company, Bombardier Inc., over plans to establish a major aircraft service centre in Nigeria. Keyamo disclosed this in a post on his official X handle, on Friday, July 10, saying the discussions focused on creating a facility that would provide maintenance support for Bombardier aircraft operating in Nigeria and across Africa. According to the minister, the proposed service centre would reduce the need for aircraft owners to take their jets abroad for maintenance, thereby helping to conserve foreign exchange. “Yesterday, I led some major operators of private jets in Nigeria to Montreal, Canada to engage with officials of Bombardier Inc., a leading Canadian aerospace company specialising in the design, manufacture, and servicing of luxury business jets (such as the Global and Challenger families) and defence aircraft solutions,” Keyamo said. He added that the meeting explored “the prospect of the company establishing a major service centre in Nigeria” to support aircraft within the country and the wider African continent. Keyamo noted that Nigeria currently has the highest number of private jets in Africa, with nearly 240 aircraft operating in the country, adding that significant foreign exchange is spent on maintaining the aircraft overseas. “Nigeria officially has the highest number of private jets in Africa with nearly 240 presently operating within the country and so much foreign currency is repatriated weekly from the country for the maintenance of these aircraft,” he said. The minister said attracting Bombardier’s maintenance operations to Nigeria would strengthen the country’s aviation sector and position it as a regional hub for business aviation services. Bombardier Inc. is a Canadian aerospace company known for producing business aircraft, including its Global and Challenger series of private jets, as well as providing aircraft maintenance and support services globally.