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By Chinelo Obogo
The high cost of acquiring aircraft remains one of the most pressing obstacles to the growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has said.
Speaking at the inaugural Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit (NAAIS) 2026 held in Lagos on Thursday, Najomo said the industry is struggling to modernise its fleet against the backdrop of financing challenges where ageing fleet and limited aircraft numbers have long constrained the expansion plans of domestic carriers. While demand for air travel continues to grow, airlines have struggled to secure the funding needed to purchase new aircraft. Najomo said that the problem goes beyond the price of aircraft. He urged stakeholders to adopt innovative financing approaches tailored to Nigeria’s specific environment, stressing that reforms must support long-term investment.
A key part of that reform agenda, he said, is to rebuild trust with international financiers and lessors, whose participation is essential to making aircraft deals happen. Najomo pointed to the NCAA’s commitment to the Cape Town Convention and strict implementation of the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) as steps the government is taking toward reassuring global capital providers.
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However, Najomo warned that simply acquiring aircraft without the infrastructure to support them risks turning an expensive investment into a liability as inadequate domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities mean aircraft would have to be sent abroad for servicing, which drives up costs and draining foreign exchange from the economy.
He cautioned airlines against uncoordinated fleet expansion, saying that aircraft selection must align with route structures, market demand, and maintenance capability warning that getting this wrong leads to inefficiencies and increased operational costs.
He also pointed to human capital as a hidden cost of fleet growth, noting that investment in skilled pilots, engineers, and technical staff is essential to safely managing modern aircraft and evolving aviation technologies. He said transformation in Nigeria’s aviation is only achievable if capital access, investor confidence, and capacity development are pursued together in a coordinated manner.
