Keyamo Leads Private Jet Operators to Canada Over Aircraft Maintenance Hub for Nigeria

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has led a delegation of private jet operators to Canada for talks with aerospace giant Bombardier Inc. on plans to establish a major aircraft maintenance and service centre in Nigeria.

Keyamo disclosed this in a post on his official X handle, stating that the meeting with officials of the Canadian company focused on setting up a facility that would provide maintenance support for Bombardier aircraft operating in Nigeria and across Africa.

According to the minister, the proposed service centre would significantly reduce the need for aircraft owners to take their jets overseas for maintenance, helping the country save substantial foreign exchange.

“Yesterday, I led some major operators of private jets in Nigeria to Montreal, Canada, to engage with officials of Bombardier Inc., a leading Canadian aerospace company specialising in the design, manufacture, and servicing of luxury business jets and defence aircraft solutions,” Keyamo said.

He explained that discussions centred on the possibility of Bombardier establishing a major maintenance facility in Nigeria to serve both domestic and regional operators.

Keyamo noted that Nigeria currently has the largest private jet fleet in Africa, with nearly 240 aircraft operating across the country.

He said billions of naira in foreign exchange are spent regularly on maintaining these aircraft abroad, stressing that establishing a local service centre would strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry and position the country as a regional hub for business aviation maintenance.

Bombardier Inc. is a Canadian aerospace manufacturer known for producing the Global and Challenger series of business jets, alongside providing aircraft maintenance and support services worldwide