NCAA Calls for Adoption of PPP to Close Infrastructural Gaps in Aviation Development

Chinedu Eze

The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, has stressed the need for effective participation of the private sector players in order to achieve rapid growth and transformation in the aviation industry.

Speaking at the maiden Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit (NAAIS) 2026, in Lagos, Najomo said Public Private Partnership (PPP) remained the key to Nigeria’s economic transformation and suggested that there should be regulatory and market confidence in the PPP arrangement.

According to the director general, aviation is more than transportation because it is a catalyst for trade, tourism, investment, and national integration.

“For Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and one of its most dynamic markets, the aviation sector holds immense promise. Yet, unlocking this potential requires more than infrastructure; it demands trust. Trust in our regulatory systems. Trust in our policies. And trust in the long-term viability of investments,” he said.

Najomo insisted that without private sector investment in the aviation industry, it would not meet its development targets, adding that currently, the aviation sector is ranked very low in terms of infrastructure development.

“Nigeria is currently confronted with a significant infrastructure deficit that continues to constrain economic growth and development. Accordingly, Nigeria ranks near the bottom among African countries, with an Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI) score of 25.70, which highlights the urgent need for large-scale infrastructure investment.

“Despite the need, Nigeria’s infrastructure stock remained around 30 per cent of GDP, which is significantly below the global benchmark of approximately 70 per cent, indicating underinvestment that is relative to economic size, with an estimated infrastructure deficit of over $2.3 trillion. Public financing alone has proven insufficient to meet these demands,” he noted.

Najomo stated that Public-Private-Partnerships are not just financing tools; they are engines of efficiency, innovation, and risk-sharing.

He noted that in aviation, PPPs enable modernization of airport infrastructure, improved operational efficiency, enhanced passenger experience, and access to global best practices and technology.

Najomo added that Nigeria’s growing population, expanding middle class, and increasing regional connectivity make the aviation market one of the most attractive in Africa.

“However, capital follows confidence, and confidence follows clarity, consistency, and credibility,” he further said.

According to him, “No investor commits capital into an environment where rules are unclear or inconsistently applied. Regulatory certainty must therefore be our priority. This means clear legal frameworks governing PPP concessions, transparent procurement processes, consistent enforcement of contracts, and independence and professionalism of regulatory bodies. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has been at the forefront of championing this course.”

He further explained that regulation should not be seen as a barrier but as a guarantee of fairness and predictability.

He said that when investors know that agreements would be honoured and disputes resolved impartially, risk premiums decline—and investment flows increase.

“Aviation PPPs are long-term investments, often spanning 20 to 30 years or even more. Investors must be confident that government policies will not shift abruptly, concession terms will not be arbitrarily altered, and tariff structures will remain predictable. Nigeria must therefore commit to a long-term aviation strategy, aligned with national economic goals, and insulated, as much as possible, from short-term political cycles. I am glad to state that since the inauguration of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government, no inherited concession agreements have either been cancelled or altered,” Najomo said.

Supporting the director general on his take on partnership with the private sector under PPP, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Farouk Ahmed Umar, in his presentation at the summit  said: “Nigeria represents one of the most significant untapped aviation markets on the continent. Passenger growth is rising, regional connectivity is expanding and demand for fleet renewal is real.”

However, he remarked that opportunity alone was not enough.

“You need assurance that the system can support your investment. That assurance is what we are building. We are strengthening oversight. We are improving transparency. We are enforcing compliance. And where necessary, we are prepared to take difficult decisions to protect institutional integrity. That includes reviewing arrangements that do not align with national interest or operational efficiency,” Umar said.