NCAA Woos Global Aviation Finance Community At NAAIS 2026

The director-general of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo has sent a clear signal to financiers, lessors, and global partners to take full advantage of the vistas of opportunities available in Nigeria to invest in the aviation industry.

He made this call during the maiden Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit 2026, held in Lagos between April 1 and 2, 2026, themed “Unlocking Capital, Confidence and Capacity in Nigeria Aviation.”

The programme is aimed at extracting tangible deliverables that unlock Nigeria’s aviation potential for investment and aircraft acquisition.

According to Capt. Najomo, in line with the federal government of Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and in a bid to boost aviation sector growth, Nigeria has domesticated the Cape Town Convention in the Civil Aviation Act 2022 and signed an updated Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA), which has significantly impacted on the Nigerian aviation market by enhancing the safety and efficiency of aircraft leasing and financing.

While identifying three interconnected pillars upon which the future of our aviation sector must be built, including unlocking capital, unlocking confidence, and unlocking capacity, Capt. Najomo affirmed the NCAA’s commitment to enforcing IDERA with fidelity.

He assured aircraft financiers and lessors alike not to worry, declaring that Nigeria’s market is open, structured, and reform-driven, with a proactive, data-driven, and internationally aligned CAA, and with airlines ready to engage responsibly and competitively.

He, however, reaffirmed the optimism of the NCAA in workable and realistic outcomes from this summit that will cause the much-sought paradigm shift in aircraft acquisition and aviation investment, and expressed deep appreciation for foresight and doggedness of the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo in conceptualising the uniquely defined summit.