The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is actively exploring the certification of China’s C919 jet for use by domestic airlines, as ties with Beijing strengthen and amid growing fleet expansion plans.
The authority’s director general, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, told Reuters that the authority is looking into the certification process, which could take several months, despite the aircraft not having approval from Western regulators. China’s COMAC, the manufacturer behind the narrow-body C919 designed to rival Airbus and Boeing models, has engaged with Nigerian officials to promote its jets.
“We’re looking at the certification of the airplane. First of all, that is where we have to start,” Najomo said on the sidelines of the U.N. aviation agency’s assembly in Montreal. He added that COMAC officials had offered maintenance and training support for any planes operated by Nigerian carriers and was exploring dry lease arrangements, which involve leasing aircraft without crew.
The company is keen to expand into Africa but faces hurdles, including missed delivery deadlines and the absence of Western regulatory certifications. This year, the U.S. temporarily halted exports of the CFM engines used on the C919 due to trade conflicts.
The CEO of Nigerian airline NG Eagle, Abdullahi Ahmed, expressed interest in expanding his fleet beyond its current three jets and said he would consider COMAC planes if certified and accompanied by maintenance and training support.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with 230 million people, is considered a potential growth market for aviation. Currently, the C919 is only operated by Chinese airlines.
