April 01, (THEWILL) — The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has outlined critical pitfalls operators must avoid when selecting aircraft for aviation operations, emphasising strategy, discipline, and sustainability.
Speaking at the maiden Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit 2026, held at the Federal Palace Hotel on April 1, 2026, Najomo stressed that poor aircraft selection decisions continue to undermine operational efficiency in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Capital, Confidence and Capacity in Nigeria Aviation”, aims to generate actionable outcomes that will catalyse investment and streamline aircraft acquisition in the country.
According to Najomo, one of the most common mistakes operators make is acquiring aircraft without aligning them with route structures, market demand, and maintenance capability.
“Aircraft selection must be strategic. When it is not aligned with operational realities, it leads to inefficiencies and increased operational challenges”, he stated.
He warned that uncoordinated fleet expansion, often driven by opportunistic acquisition rather than long-term planning, can strain airline operations and inflate costs.
Najomo highlighted that aircraft acquisition remains highly capital-intensive, noting that limited access to sustainable and affordable financing continues to restrict fleet modernisation across the industry.
He further emphasised that investor confidence is a decisive factor in unlocking aviation growth.
“Confidence drives investment. It shapes the willingness of financiers, lessors, and global partners to engage meaningfully with our market”, he added.
To address this, the NCAA is strengthening regulatory frameworks and ensuring compliance with global standards, including the Cape Town Convention, through strict implementation of the Irrevocable De-registration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA).
Najomo disclosed that Nigeria has domesticated the Cape Town Convention under the Civil Aviation Act 2022, and formally signed IDERA in October 2024, moves that have significantly improved the country’s attractiveness to aircraft financiers and lessors.
He assured stakeholders that the NCAA is committed to a transparent, digitally driven regulatory system that exceeds the minimum standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“Strong regulation built on transparency, predictability, and strict adherence to international standards provides the confidence investors need”, he noted.
Beyond financing and regulation, Najomo stressed the importance of building national capacity to sustain aviation growth. This includes developing local Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and investing in human capital.
He cautioned that expanding fleet size without corresponding maintenance infrastructure leads to capital flight and undermines long-term sectoral gains. Similarly, he underscored the need for continuous training of pilots, engineers, and aviation professionals to support modern fleet operations.
The NCAA DG equally made a call for airlines to adopt disciplined and data-driven approaches to fleet acquisition, aligning business decisions with operational realities and national capacity.
He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that promotes ease of doing business while maintaining stringent safety and regulatory standards.
“Nigeria is sending a clear message to the global aviation finance community: our market is open, structured, and reform-driven”, he declared.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
