The Federal Government has intensified efforts to establish a world-class aircraft maintenance and service centre in Nigeria following high-level discussions with Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier Inc., a move aimed at reducing the huge foreign exchange spent annually on overseas aircraft maintenance and positioning the country as a regional business aviation hub.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, led a delegation of major Nigerian private jet operators and senior aviation officials on a working visit to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Montréal, Canada, where discussions centred on expanding technical cooperation and attracting the company’s maintenance operations to Nigeria.
The 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 Organization (ICAO), Mahmoud Sani Ben-Tukur; alongside other government officials and industry stakeholders.
According to Keyamo, the proposed service centre would provide maintenance support for Bombardier aircraft operating in Nigeria and across Africa, eliminating the need for many aircraft owners to ferry their jets overseas for routine inspections and major maintenance.
He noted that Nigeria currently has the largest fleet of private jets on the continent, with nearly 240 aircraft in operation, resulting in significant capital flight as operators spend substantial foreign exchange on maintenance, repairs and technical support outside the country.
The minister said establishing a Bombardier-authorised maintenance facility would strengthen Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, deepen local technical capacity and support the country’s ambition of becoming Africa’s preferred hub for business aviation services.
Beyond maintenance, the engagement also explored opportunities in aircraft acquisition, pilot and engineering training, aftermarket support, aerospace technology transfer and technical collaboration, with the Nigerian delegation receiving firsthand insight into Bombardier’s manufacturing, aircraft completion, digital technologies and customer support systems.
The visit also marked the completion of the Federal Government’s engagement with the world’s four leading commercial and business aircraft manufacturers. Since assuming office in 2023, Keyamo has pursued direct partnerships with Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and now Bombardier as part of a broader strategy to modernise airline fleets, improve access to aircraft financing, strengthen Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian operators.
Keyamo said the government’s objective has remained consistent: to connect indigenous operators directly with global aircraft manufacturers while creating opportunities that support fleet renewal, improve safety, boost operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Industry stakeholders believe securing a Bombardier maintenance facility would not only reduce operating costs for aircraft owners but also create high-skilled jobs, develop local engineering expertise and attract maintenance business from other African countries, further strengthening Nigeria’s position within the continent’s growing aerospace sector.
