Nigeria is taking a bold step to transform its aviation financing landscape with the launch of the Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit (NAAIS).
It is a dedicated platform to attract global aircraft lessors, financiers, airport concessionaires, and institutional investors into the country’s aviation sector.
What Is NAAIS?
The Federal Government has established NAAIS as a Special Purpose Window to bring together international aircraft lessors, global aviation financiers, airline operators, airport concessionaires, policymakers, and institutional investors to explore opportunities across Nigeria’s aviation value chain.
Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo described the summit as a deliberate policy shift:
“By bringing global investors directly into conversation with regulators and operators, the summit aims to close Nigeria’s aircraft capacity gap and unlock the next phase of aviation-led economic growth.”
Why Nigeria Needs This Now
Nigeria currently supports approximately 15–16 million annual air passengers, with projections indicating growth to 25.7 million by 2029. Despite having Africa’s largest population, estimated at over 220 million, Nigeria ranks only as the continent’s fifth-largest aviation market by seat capacity.
The summit will also focus on investment frameworks for airport concession programmes and strategies for risk mitigation aimed at boosting investor confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s aircraft leasing ecosystem.
Nigeria’s ambition is clear: transform from an underserved market into a fully competitive West African aviation hub.
