Nigeria Leads Africa in Private Jet Ownership, Government Courts Global Manufacturers for Fleet Renewal
Nigeria’s business aviation market has claimed the top spot in Africa, with the largest fleet of private jets on the continent, a status the Federal Government is now harnessing to secure deeper collaboration with the world’s foremost aircraft manufacturers.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made the announcement on Saturday in Montréal, Canada, at the conclusion of a working visit to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre. The stop marked the end of a coordinated series of strategic engagements with four leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)" Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier, designed to unlock access to modern aircraft, flexible financing and technical support for Nigerian carriers.
“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 stated.
The Minister explained that the government’s immediate goal is to connect indigenous operators directly with OEMs, enabling the modernisation of ageing fleets, improving safety and operational efficiency, and fostering long-term sector sustainability. He noted that the initiative would create new pathways in fleet renewal, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, engineering support, aviation training, technical capacity development and aerospace technology transfer.
Keyamo led a delegation comprising 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; and other senior government officials and industry stakeholders.
At Bombardier’s facility, the team inspected the manufacturer’s completion and production lines and received detailed briefings on aircraft maintenance systems, pilot and technical training programmes, digital aviation technologies, aftermarket services and aircraft acquisition solutions. Bombardier, a global leader in business aviation, produces the Challenger and Global series of executive jets and provides end-to-end completion, maintenance and training services.
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development said the engagements form part of the Tinubu administration’s broader push to reposition Nigeria as Africa’s preferred aviation hub. The strategy rests on international partnerships, private-sector collaboration and continuous regulatory reforms, while encouraging operators to transition to newer, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft and deepening ties with financiers and lessors.