Nigeria has the highest number of private jets in Africa, with about 240 aircraft currently operating in the country, according to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN).
Keyamo disclosed this during a strategic engagement with officials of Bombardier Inc. in Montreal, Canada, where he led a delegation of Nigerian private jet operators and aviation stakeholders to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration in the aviation sector.
According to the minister, discussions centred on the possibility of establishing a major Bombardier aircraft service centre in Nigeria to provide maintenance, repair and technical support for Bombardier aircraft operating within the country and across Africa.
He noted that Nigeria’s large fleet of private jets results in significant foreign exchange outflows, as many aircraft are currently maintained overseas.
“Nigeria officially has the highest number of private jets in Africa, with nearly 240 currently operating within the country. A substantial amount of foreign exchange is repatriated every week for the maintenance of these aircraft,” Keyamo said.
He explained that establishing a world-class maintenance facility in Nigeria would reduce overseas maintenance costs, conserve foreign exchange, create skilled jobs and position the country as a regional hub for business aviation services.
The minister’s visit to Bombardier followed earlier strategic engagements with global aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing, Airbus and Embraer, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to modernise Nigeria’s aviation sector.
A statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, said the Nigerian delegation was briefed on aircraft manufacturing, maintenance support systems, pilot and technical training, digital aviation technologies, aftermarket services and aircraft acquisition solutions.
The 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 Organization (ICAO), Engr. Mahmoud Sani Ben-Tukur; alongside other senior government officials and industry stakeholders.
The Federal Government said the engagement is expected to create new opportunities in fleet modernisation, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), aviation training, engineering support, technical capacity development and aerospace technology transfer.
Keyamo reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s aviation industry through strategic partnerships with leading global aircraft manufacturers, with the goal of improving safety, operational efficiency and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s preferred aviation hub.
