Nigeria’s civil aviation regulator is considering certifying China’s C919 aircraft for use by domestic carriers.
The move could open up a new front in the country’s growing aviation sector and deepen ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy.
The C919, built by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus in the global narrow-body jet market.
Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director General, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo told Reuters the agency is weighing the months-long process of certifying the jet, which has yet to receive approval from Western regulators.
“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 UN aviation agency’s assembly in Montreal.
For COMAC, certification in Nigeria would be a critical step in its bid to enter the African market.
Abdullahi Ahmed, CEO of NG Eagle, a Nigerian carrier with three jets, said his airline is open to adding COMAC aircraft if they are certified and backed by adequate maintenance and training support.
The NCAA’s consideration of COMAC’s C919 could reshape Nigeria’s aviation sector in several ways.
With a population of 230 million, Nigeria represents one of Africa’s biggest potential aviation markets.
Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that average real airfare in Nigeria dropped by 43.6% between 2011 and 2023, making flying relatively more accessible.