Nigeria Considers Certifying China’s C919 Jet for Domestic Use

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is evaluating the certification of China’s C919 passenger jet for potential use by domestic airlines, signaling a potential shift in the country’s aviation procurement strategy as it strengthens ties with Beijing.

NCAA Director General Capt. Chris Ona Najomo confirmed the authority is reviewing the certification process for the COMAC C919, a narrow-body aircraft designed to compete with models from Airbus and Boeing. The move comes despite the jet’s lack of approval from Western regulators.

Speaking on the sidelines of the UN aviation agency’s assembly in Montreal, Najomo emphasized that certification is the first step before the aircraft can enter Nigerian airspace. “We’re looking at the certification of the airplane. First of all, that is where we have to start,” he told Reuters.

COMAC has engaged Nigerian officials with offers of maintenance and training support, alongside exploring dry lease arrangements that would allow Nigerian carriers to lease aircraft without crew. Nigerian airline NG Eagle has expressed interest in expanding its fleet with COMAC planes if certification is secured and support packages are provided.

The C919 currently operates only with Chinese carriers, though three Southeast Asian airlines fly COMAC’s smaller ARJ21 regional jet. COMAC’s African expansion faces hurdles, including missed delivery targets and the absence of key Western certifications.

Nigeria’s improved compliance with international aviation treaties has boosted lessor confidence, potentially easing fleet upgrades for its 13 domestic airlines. As Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria represents a key growth market where air travel has become more accessible, with average real airfares falling 43.6% between 2011 and 2023.