Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Director General Chris Najomo has urged global financiers and industry partners to explore growing investment opportunities in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Speaking at the Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit 2026 held in Lagos from April 1-2, Najomo described Nigeria as a reform-driven market with a proactive regulator and airlines capable of meeting international standards.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Capital, Confidence and Capacity,” focused on attracting much-needed investment into the country’s aviation industry.
Najomo stressed the need for collaboration among regulators, financiers, and industry stakeholders to address longstanding financial barriers. He said that stronger legal protections and innovative, market-specific financing models would be essential to unlocking capital flows.
He also pointed to key policy advancements, including Nigeria’s adoption of the Cape Town Convention and enforcement of the Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorization (IDERA), measures designed to improve the efficiency of aircraft leasing and financing.
There was a strong focus on the development of local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, with Najomo saying such infrastructure would reduce reliance on foreign service providers, limit capital flight, and improve operational turnaround times for domestic airlines.
“Growth must be holistic,” he said. “Without adequate maintenance capability, the benefits of fleet expansion will be limited.”
The summit also highlighted the importance of human capital development, with calls for sustained investment in training programs for pilots, engineers, and other aviation professionals to meet rising industry demand.
Najomo described Nigeria’s aviation market as “open, structured, and aligned with international standards, supported by a data-driven regulatory framework, and having airlines ready to engage responsibly and competitively.”
The event was part of broader efforts under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to diversify the economy and position aviation as a key driver of trade, tourism, and connectivity.
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