BREAKING: Nigeria Weighs Greenlight for China’s C919 Jets — A Bold Shift Away from Boeing and Airbus?

Nigeria may soon shake up Africa’s aviation landscape by opening its skies to China’s ambitious C919 passenger aircraft, potentially reducing its reliance on industry giants Boeing and Airbus.

The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Ona Najomo, revealed in Montreal during the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly that Abuja is actively evaluating the controversial jet’s certification.

> “We’re looking at the certification of the airplane. First of all, that is where we have to start,” Najomo told Reuters, noting that the process could take months as the C919 has yet to secure approvals from Western regulators like the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

China’s Jet Lands on Nigeria’s Radar

The C919, developed by Beijing’s state-backed Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is designed to challenge Airbus’ A320 and Boeing’s 737 in the lucrative narrow-body market. For now, the jet has flown mainly with Chinese carriers — but COMAC is aggressively wooing Nigeria and other African countries with a mix of incentives.

These offers reportedly include pilot training, maintenance packages, and flexible dry lease deals — an attractive pitch for Nigerian airlines grappling with skyrocketing costs and limited fleet options.

Najomo confirmed:

> “We just told them that if they can make sure they facilitate a good dry lease arrangement, it’s better.”

Abdullahi Ahmed, Chief Executive of NG Eagle, one of Nigeria’s emerging airlines, said his company was exploring expansion beyond its current three aircraft. He hinted that COMAC could be on the table — but only if NCAA certification and long-term support are ironclad.

Industry watchers, however, warn that COMAC faces steep turbulence. The jet depends on engines from CFM International, a U.S.-French consortium. Deliveries were briefly halted this year after Washington restricted exports amid its ongoing trade battle with Beijing, casting uncertainty over the program’s stability.

Nigeria’s aviation profile has climbed in recent years. Its upgrade in the Aviation Working Group’s compliance ratings under the Cape Town Convention has given local airlines better access to financing and leasing of modern aircraft. Currently, 13 airlines operate within the country, but most remain heavily reliant on Boeing and Airbus fleets.

Experts remain divided on Abuja’s flirtation with COMAC. Some view it as a pragmatic step to diversify fleet options and reduce Western dependence. Others warn it may be a politically charged gamble, tied to Nigeria’s deepening economic ties with China.

For ordinary Nigerians, the debate over which jets dominate the skies feels distant. Despite data showing a 43.6 percent drop in average real airfare between 2011 and 2023, ticket prices remain punishingly high for a nation where incomes are stagnant.

Whether COMAC’s C919 can truly lower costs, improve access, and compete with Western titans remains the billion-dollar question — and Nigeria might be the first African nation to put it to the test.