The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN led “a high-level Nigerian delegation to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre (LBCC) in Montréal, Canada, completing Nigeria’s formal engagement with the world’s four leading aircraft manufacturers: Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier.”
A statement by the Special Adviser on Service Delivery to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ms. Janet Oputa said, “this milestone reflects deliberate policy execution. The Bombardier visit was especially significant for Nigeria’s business and non-scheduled aviation sector, which plays a vital role in commerce, foreign investment, energy operations, humanitarian services, medical evacuation, tourism, and government mobility.”
According to Ms. Oputa, “At the world-class facility, Nigerian operators gained exposure to advanced aircraft manufacturing, completion technologies, maintenance support systems, pilot and engineer training, digital aviation solutions, and innovative fleet acquisition models.”
Ms. Oputa disclosed that “these engagements are helping address key industry challenges, including ageing fleets, limited financing, technical capacity gaps, and the need for stronger operational support.”
Ms. Oputa said: “Beyond aircraft acquisition, the Ministry’s international strategy is building direct relationships between Nigerian operators and global manufacturers, lessors, financiers, and technology partners. These partnerships are essential to reducing costs, attracting investment, strengthening local capacity, and improving competitiveness.”
“The outcomes of earlier engagements with Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer are already visible in renewed collaboration, fleet discussions, technical training, and workforce development. The Bombardier engagement is expected to further expand opportunities in business aviation, MRO, engineering services, sustainability, and aerospace innovation.” Ms. Oputa added.
According to the statement, “this milestone sends a clear message: Nigeria is pursuing aviation reform with consistency, strategic intent, and a long-term institutional vision.”
Ms. Oputa stated that “when the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), assumed office in August 2023, he set a clear strategic direction: Nigeria would no longer wait to be approached by global aircraft manufacturers. Instead, it would engage them directly.”
Ms. Oputa noted that the “vision has now been delivered. As Nigeria advances its ambition of becoming Africa’s leading aviation hub, strategic partnerships like these will remain central to building a resilient, modern, and investment-friendly aviation ecosystem.”
