By Abubakar Yunusa
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, says the federal government is set to establish a Nigerian aircraft leasing company to ease aircraft acquisition challenges faced by domestic carriers.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister, Keyamo spoke over the weekend,while unveiling the newly arrived Air Peace dry lease aircraft in Lagos.
He said discussions have advanced with global investors to establish the company, a long-awaited goal in the country’s aviation roadmap.
“We have put in place a plan to start the Nigerian aircraft leasing company now, and we have secured investors,” the minister said.
“This has been on the aviation roadmap for the past 15 years. It is not about personal benefit; it is about supporting local airlines. The idea is for Nigeria, as an entity, to negotiate directly with the world.
“Airlines won’t need to struggle individually to find aircraft — the government will provide sovereign guarantees with investors’ support.”
Keyamo said the leasing company would operate on a collaborative model, with both the government and local airlines contributing to a shared capital pool to ease aircraft acquisition through secure financial structures supported by international investors.
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