BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
In a renewed push to dismantle one of the biggest constraints facing local airlines, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development is convening a high-level international summit aimed at solving Nigeria’s aircraft acquisition and leasing challenge.
The three-day Nigerian Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit, scheduled for April 1 to April 2 at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, will bring together aircraft manufacturers, leasing firms, financiers and airline operators to explore workable financing frameworks for Nigerian carriers.
Global aviation giants expected at the summit include Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier, alongside international insurance companies, financial institutions, aircraft lessors and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organisations.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Growth, Stability, and Long-Term Returns in Africa’s Largest Mobility Market,” is expected to spotlight Nigeria’s aviation investment potential while addressing the persistent reluctance of global leasing firms to provide aircraft to Nigerian operators.
Despite its vast population and strong travel demand, Nigeria remains under-served in aviation capacity, ranking among Africa’s top markets largely because of unmet passenger demand rather than market saturation. With limited nationwide rail connectivity, air travel has become a critical transport backbone linking major cities and economic hubs.
Officials say the gathering will showcase Nigeria as a high-potential aviation market driven by “strong structural passenger demand, government-backed concession frameworks, and significantly under-monetized infrastructure.”
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is expected to use the summit to build on progress made since Nigeria strengthened its compliance with the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol Practice Direction—measures aimed at improving investor confidence in the country’s aviation sector.
To further reduce investor risk, the Federal Government is also exploring a structure that would back a domestic aircraft leasing company with sovereign guarantees, enabling Nigerian airlines to lease aircraft more easily while restoring the country’s credibility with international financiers.
Among high-profile participants expected at the summit are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, global aviation financiers, airline executives and representatives of the International Air Transport Association, all of whom will explore pathways to unlock sustainable growth for Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
