Nigeria’s Private Jet Fleet Tops Africa, Keyamo Sees Lever for Global Partnerships

Nigeria has the largest fleet of private jets on the continent, a position the Federal Government now plans to convert into stronger ties with the world’s top aircraft manufacturers and a broader expansion of the country’s aviation industry.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made the disclosure on Saturday in Montréal, Canada, after a working tour of Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre. The visit capped a series of strategic meetings with four major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs): Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier, aimed at giving Nigerian airlines better access to modern aircraft, financing and technical support.

“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 explained that the government’s objective is to link Nigerian operators directly with manufacturers to modernise fleets, raise safety standards, boost operational efficiency and secure the sector’s long-term sustainability. The initiative, he noted, would open doors in fleet renewal, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, engineering support, aviation training, technical capacity development and aerospace technology transfer.

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, and other government officials and industry stakeholders.

At Bombardier, the team toured the manufacturer’s completion and production facilities and received presentations on maintenance systems, pilot and technical training, digital tools, aftermarket services and aircraft acquisition solutions. Bombardier builds the Challenger and Global families of business jets and delivers completion, maintenance and training support globally.

The Ministry said the engagements reflect the Tinubu administration’s drive to reposition Nigeria as Africa’s preferred aviation hub through global alliances, private-sector collaboration and sustained reforms. The push also encourages Nigerian operators to acquire newer, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft while deepening relationships with financiers and lessors.