REVEALED: Nigeria has highest number of private jets in Africa

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has disclosed that about 240 private jets are currently operating in Nigeria, the highest number on the continent. Keyamo disclosed this during his engagement with the world’s leading aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The Minister led some major operators of private jets in Nigeria to Montreal, […]

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has disclosed that about 240 private jets are currently operating in Nigeria, the highest number on the continent.

Keyamo disclosed this during his engagement with the world’s leading aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

The Minister led some major operators of private jets in Nigeria to Montreal, Canada to engage with officials of Bombardier Inc., a leading Canadian aerospace company specializing in the design, manufacture, and servicing of luxury business jets (such as the Global and Challenger families) and defense aircraft solutions.

According to the minister, discussions with Bombardier focused on the possibility of establishing a major aircraft service centre in Nigeria to provide maintenance support for Bombardier aircraft operating in the country and across Africa.

He wrote: “Our discussions covered a broad range of issues, especially the prospect of the company establishing a major service center in Nigeria. This will provide the much needed support for their aircraft within the country and the African continent as a whole.

“Nigeria officially has the highest number of private jets in Africa with nearly 240 presently operating within the country and so much foreign currency is repatriated weekly from the country for the maintenance of these aircraft.”

Daily Trust reports that the number of private jets in Nigeria has seen a drastic rise since 2021 when it was just 100 despite the economic whirlwind.

However, most of the private jets, close to 70 per cent of them, were foreign registered while most of them were used for illegal charter operations which necessitated the recent set up of committee to probe the development.

The Ministerial Taskforce on illegal Air Charter operation set up by Keyamo recently fingered high net worth individuals and foreign registered aircraft as culprits in illegal charter operations.
Recently, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was at loggerheads with the operators over payment of the required duties and levies on importation of the private jets.

Industry players say more often than not many private jet owners in Nigeria chose foreign registration to bypass some levies and charges.

Speaking during the visit, the Minister noted that the establishment of a Bombardier service centre in Nigeria would significantly reduce the cost of overseas maintenance, conserve foreign exchange, create skilled jobs and position the country as a regional hub for business aviation services.
A statement earlier issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, disclosed that the Bombardier’s visit completed Nigeria’s strategic engagements with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, following earlier visits to Boeing, Airbus and Embraer.

The minister, according to the statement, was accompanied by 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; and other senior government officials and industry stakeholders.

During the visit to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre, the Nigerian delegation received briefings on aircraft manufacturing and completion processes, maintenance support systems, pilot and technical training programmes, digital technologies, aftermarket services and aircraft acquisition solutions.

The Federal Government said the engagement is expected to open new opportunities in fleet modernisation, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), engineering support, technical capacity development, aviation training and aerospace technology transfer.

Keyamo said the Tinubu administration remains committed to creating an enabling environment for indigenous operators through strategic partnerships with global aircraft manufacturers, aimed at improving safety, operational efficiency and the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The statement added, “The visit also advances the Honourable Minister’s fleet modernisation agenda by encouraging the acquisition of newer, safer and more fuel-efficient aircraft while strengthening partnerships among aircraft manufacturers, financiers, lessors and Nigerian operators.

“The successful completion of strategic engagements with Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier underscores the commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration to repositioning Nigeria as Africa’s preferred aviation hub through strategic international partnerships, private-sector collaboration and sustainable industry reforms.”