Nigeria’s civil aviation authority is considering certifying China’s C919 passenger jet for use by the country’s airlines, the agency’s director general told Reuters, as carriers expand their fleets and ties with Beijing deepen.
The narrow-body C919, produced by Chinese state-owned planemaker COMAC, is designed to compete with Airbus and Boeing. COMAC has already held several rounds of talks with Nigeria as it seeks to open up access to the African market.
However, the company faces hurdles. Its two aircraft models lack certification from key Western regulators, while delivery schedules are already slipping. Earlier this year, the United States temporarily blocked exports of the CFM engines used in the C919 due to trade tensions.
Nigeria, with a population of 230 million, is seen as an emerging aviation market. Civil aviation chief Captain Chris Ona Najomo said the authority was weighing the months-long certification process needed for the C919 to fly domestic routes, noting its absence of Western validation.
“We’re looking at the certification of the aeroplane. That is where we have to start,” Najomo said on the sidelines of the UN aviation agency’s assembly in Montreal.
COMAC offers support to Nigerian carriers
Najomo added that COMAC had proposed maintenance and training support for Nigerian operators and was open to arranging dry leases, under which aircraft are provided without crew.
“We told them that if they can facilitate a good dry lease arrangement, that would be preferable,” he said.
Abdullahi Ahmed, chief executive of Nigerian airline NG Eagle, which currently operates three aircraft, said he would consider COMAC jets if they received certification and came with proper support.
Nigeria’s stronger compliance with the Cape Town Convention — an international treaty that simplifies leasing aviation assets — has improved its Aviation Working Group rating, boosting confidence among lessors and making newer aircraft more accessible to its 13 carriers.
While air travel remains expensive for many Nigerians, IATA data shows the average real airfare fell by 43.6% between 2011 and 2023.
At present, the C919 is only flown by Chinese airlines. COMAC’s smaller C909 regional jet is in service with three airlines in Southeast Asia.
Current security challenges and ongoing geopolitical shifts were the focus of the annual Georgia Ambassadors' Conference taking place from 22 - 25 Dec...
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary by AnewZ Investigations. It is built around the case of Ruben Vardanyan, but it is not a biogr...
Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to China have surged by 1.6 million tonnes in November marking a 143% increase from the same period last...
The European Union has released €2.3 billion in financial aid to Ukraine to support urgent social and civil infrastructure needs. According to polit...
At least 11 Afghan nationals have died were killed and nine others injured after a pickup truck collided with an oil tanker in Pakistan late on Sunday...
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary by AnewZ Investigations. It is built around the case of Ruben Vardanyan, but it is not a biography. It is a study of mechanisms, how money travels, how influence is packaged, and how narratives are built to look like truth.
Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to China have surged by 1.6 million tonnes in November marking a 143% increase from the same period last year.
The European Union has released €2.3 billion in financial aid to Ukraine to support urgent social and civil infrastructure needs. According to political analyst Orkhan Nabiyev, this move reflects the EU’s assessment that a peace deal with Russia is unlikely in the near future.
At least 11 Afghan nationals have died were killed and nine others injured after a pickup truck collided with an oil tanker in Pakistan late on Sunday.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty gaming franchise, has died in a car crash involving a Ferrari crash on Monday in Los Angeles, United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is monitoring recent Iranian military exercises and will raise the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington next week.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
The European Union stands at a crossroads: to receive new members and accelerate the enlargement process in order to strengthen its role in the international arena, or to risk strategic stagnation by delaying expansion in favor of internal reform.
Paramount has reaffirmed its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $30 per share in cash and backing the proposal with a $40.4 billion personal equity guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison, despite the target company’s board urging shareholders to reject the offer.
Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to China have surged by 1.6 million tonnes in November marking a 143% increase from the same period last year.
The European Union has released €2.3 billion in financial aid to Ukraine to support urgent social and civil infrastructure needs. According to political analyst Orkhan Nabiyev, this move reflects the EU’s assessment that a peace deal with Russia is unlikely in the near future.
At least 11 Afghan nationals have died were killed and nine others injured after a pickup truck collided with an oil tanker in Pakistan late on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the release of photographs linking former President Bill Clinton to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the move a political distraction by Democrats.
A massive Russian strike on Ukraine killed at least three people, including a four-year-old, as air raids and power outages hit cities nationwide. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack, urging greater pressure on Moscow.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment