The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that Nigeria boasts the largest fleet of private jets in Africa, describing the achievement as a strategic advantage for strengthening partnerships with global aircraft manufacturers and advancing the country’s aviation sector.
Keyamo made the remarks on Saturday in Montréal, Canada, during a Federal Government engagement with leading aircraft manufacturers. The meeting followed a working visit to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre.
According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the visit concluded a series of strategic meetings with four major aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)—Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier. The engagements were aimed at improving Nigerian airlines’ access to modern aircraft, financing options, and technical support.
Speaking during the engagement, Keyamo said Nigeria’s expanding business aviation market has positioned the country as a major force in Africa’s aviation industry.
“Nigeria has the highest number of private jets in Africa. That is a huge market, and we intend to leverage that strength to build stronger relationships with manufacturers, create more opportunities for our operators, and support the continued growth of our aviation industry,” he said.
The minister explained that the Federal Government is focused on connecting Nigerian operators directly with leading aircraft manufacturers to modernise fleets, improve safety standards, boost operational efficiency, and ensure sustainable growth across 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 guarantee the long-term sustainability of our aviation industry,” Keyamo added.
The Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo; the 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; as well as other government officials and aviation industry stakeholders.
During the visit, the delegation toured Bombardier’s manufacturing and aircraft completion facilities, where they received presentations on aircraft maintenance systems, pilot and technical training, digital aviation technologies, aftermarket services, and aircraft acquisition solutions.
