Nigeria Now Has Africa’s Largest Private Jet Fleet – Aviation Minister, Keyamo

Nigeria now has the largest private jet fleet in Africa, with almost 240 privately owned aircraft operating across the country, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed.

Keyamo disclosed this during a strategic meeting with Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Inc. in Montreal, where discussions focused on plans to establish a world-class aircraft maintenance and service centre in Nigeria.

According to the minister, the proposed facility is expected to significantly reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on maintaining Nigerian-owned aircraft overseas. It would also create skilled employment opportunities, strengthen the country’s aviation technical expertise and position Nigeria as a leading hub for business aviation services across Africa.

Highlighting the scale of the country’s private aviation sector, Keyamo said Nigeria currently operates the highest number of private jets on the continent, adding that substantial amounts of foreign currency leave the country every week to pay for maintenance services abroad.

“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,” the minister said.

The engagement with Bombardier forms part of the Federal Government’s wider aviation reform programme aimed at modernising the sector through partnerships with leading global aircraft manufacturers. The initiative is expected to improve operational efficiency, build local maintenance capacity and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign aviation service providers.

If successful, the proposed maintenance centre could not only save costs for aircraft owners but also attract operators from neighbouring African countries, further strengthening Nigeria’s position as a key player in the continent’s aviation industry.