Festus Keyamo, the Federal Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has disclosed that the Nigerian government is in talks with prominent aircraft leasing companies in France to facilitate the leasing of Airbus aircraft for Nigeria’s private airline operators.
The announcement, made on his official X account, outlined that Keyamo led a delegation of senior government officials from Nigeria’s aviation sector and representatives of private airlines to Airbus headquarters in Occitanie, France, last week.
The purpose of the visit was to engage in high-level meetings with leading aircraft leasing companies, negotiating terms to make Airbus aircraft accessible to local Nigerian airline operators at cost-effective rates.
“The governmental objective is to ensure the affordability of these aircraft for local carriers, enabling them to enhance their operations on both domestic and international routes while contributing to the reduction of fare costs,” Keyamo’s post, referred to the A350 as “heaven on earth”
To secure the leases, the delegation provided robust assurances to the leasing companies regarding the safety of their assets in Nigeria. Following the negotiations, the delegation was given a comprehensive tour showcasing various Airbus aircraft models.
Earlier reports highlighted that Festus Keyamo led a delegation to France for a four-day Nigeria-France Bilateral Business Forum. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation and attract French private sector investment to enhance Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure. The delegation explored opportunities for French private sector investment in the Nigerian aviation industry, visiting Marseille, Toulouse, Orly, and Paris during the trip.
