LAGOS — The Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit (NAAIS) 2026 has officially commenced in Lagos, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to reposition its aviation sector for sustainable growth, global competitiveness, and long-term investment.
The two-day summit, held from April 1 to 2 at the Federal Palace Hotel, was convened by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. It brings together key stakeholders across the global aviation value chain, including financiers, aircraft lessors, airline operators, and institutional investors.
In his keynote address, Keyamo outlined the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing sweeping reforms aimed at addressing long-standing structural challenges in aircraft financing and regulatory certainty. He emphasized that the summit goes beyond aircraft acquisition, focusing instead on building what he described as the three critical pillars of a globally competitive aviation industry: capital, confidence, and capacity.
The summit also featured a virtual address by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who highlighted the importance of strategic investment and policy alignment in unlocking growth across Africa’s aviation sector.
With Nigeria’s population exceeding 220 million and passenger traffic projected to surpass 25 million by 2029, industry experts say the need for innovative financing models, fleet modernization, and infrastructure expansion is increasingly urgent.
NAAIS 2026 is widely seen as a pivotal platform for catalyzing capital inflows, strengthening Nigeria’s aviation leasing ecosystem, and reinforcing its position as a leading aviation hub in West Africa. The summit aligns with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda to boost infrastructure development, improve connectivity, and unlock long-term value across the aviation sector.
Analysts note that the initiative represents a defining step toward bridging Nigeria’s aircraft capacity gap while positioning the country for a more resilient and investment-ready aviation future.
