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.

The Nigeria Civil  Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Army today, July 10, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen canine security operations and enhance  aviation security across Nigeria’s airports and critical aviation infrastructure. The ceremony took place at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja. The MoU covers collaboration in the deployment, training, and development of canine units for aviation security, including Army qualification of canine trainers and operators, licensing by the NCAA, and training of NCAA inspectors. Representing the DGCA, Capt. Chris Najomo, the Director of Aviation Security, and Dr Ben Omogo, described canine operations as an indispensable part of modern aviation security, given emerging threats, and thanked the Nigerian Army for its collaboration in the drive to uphold security in Nigeria’s aviation sector. Representing the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Provost Marshal (Army) Major General MO Erebulu, described canine units as a key force multiplier, noting that trained military dogs and handlers boost explosive detection, tracking, and search capabilities. He said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s aviation sector through professionalism and global best practices, and commended the NCAA for its resilience in bringing the initiative to fruition. Director of Corporate Services, Dr Rebecca Eyiuche, described the MoU as a strategic milestone that would strengthen institutional collaboration, foster knowledge transfer, and ensure long-term sustainability in aviation security. In attendance from the NCAA were Mrs Morenike Igbinoba, DGM Evaluation and Regulation; Mr Austine Okeze, DGM AVSEC; Mr Wole Oludare, DGM Quality Control; and Achi Christopher, AVSEC Inspector.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to modernising Nigeria’s aviation sector through the acquisition of newer, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft, while strengthening collaboration among aircraft manufacturers, financiers, lessors and indigenous airline operators. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, reiterated the commitment during a working visit to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre (LBCC) in Montréal, Canada, where he led a delegation of Nigerian airline operators and senior aviation officials. A statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, said the visit marked the conclusion of the Federal Government’s strategic engagement with the world’s leading aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). According to the statement, Keyamo said the administration remains committed to creating an enabling environment that will allow indigenous carriers to expand and modernise their fleets. “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,” the minister said. Moshood explained that the Bombardier visit forms part of the government’s broader fleet modernisation agenda aimed at encouraging Nigerian operators to acquire newer, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft while strengthening partnerships with aircraft manufacturers, financiers and leasing companies. He added that the successful completion of engagements with Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier underscores the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu administration to reposition Nigeria as Africa’s preferred aviation hub through strategic international partnerships, private-sector collaboration and sustainable industry reforms. According to the statement, the government’s comprehensive OEM engagement programme is expected to support fleet renewal, improve access to aircraft financing, expand technical cooperation, strengthen maintenance capabilities and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian airlines. The minister was accompanied on the visit by 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 senior government officials and industry stakeholders. The statement noted that the visit fulfils a commitment made by Keyamo upon assuming office in 2023 to establish direct partnerships between Nigerian operators and leading global aircraft manufacturers. It added that with the conclusion of the Bombardier visit, the Federal Government has completed strategic engagements with the four major OEMs—Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier—as part of efforts to support fleet renewal, improve aircraft financing opportunities and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised United Nigeria Airlines and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, over the alleged poor treatment of passengers affected by a prolonged flight delay. Sowore said several passengers scheduled to travel from Lagos to Owerri on United Nigeria Airlines were left stranded at the airport for more than 11 hours without proper information or adequate support from the airline. In a statement posted on his official page, the activist said he met some of the affected passengers after they had spent the entire day at the airport waiting for their flight.According to him, the airline repeatedly shifted the departure time without giving clear explanations to travellers who had been waiting for hours. “Yesterday, I met several passengers scheduled to travel from Lagos to Owerri on United Nigeria Airlines. They had been abandoned to their fate after spending the entire day at the airport,” Sowore said. “Some had been stranded for more than 11 hours, while the airline repeatedly postponed their departure time without providing clear explanations or adequate care.” Sowore said the incident reflected a deeper problem in Nigeria’s aviation sector, where passengers are often subjected to long delays, poor communication and inadequate care by domestic airlines. He accused the NCAA of failing to properly regulate domestic operators and protect passengers from what he described as irresponsible conduct. “Although we had a cordial interaction, that does not prevent us from once again stating the obvious: Nigeria’s aviation regulators, especially the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, have failed in their responsibility to rein in the irresponsible conduct of domestic airlines,” he said.