Nigeria has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to advance the implementation of the $7 billion Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme (IATP), a major continental initiative aimed at modernising Africa’s aviation sector.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the AfDB Annual Meetings held in Brazzaville, Congo.
According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the partnership is expected to strengthen aviation infrastructure, improve sector financing, and enhance connectivity across Africa.
The signing ceremony followed a high-level dialogue session involving the AfDB President and Governors, where Nigeria presented its aviation reform agenda and outlined investment opportunities under the Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme.
Speaking during the session, Keyamo highlighted the strategic opportunities the $7 billion programme presents for Africa’s aviation industry, particularly for Nigeria, which has recently assumed a leading role in the initiative.
Following the engagement, the Minister unveiled Nigeria’s Aviation Sector Country Compact before both parties formally signed the Letter of Intent, committing to work closely toward operationalising the AfDB-backed aviation programme across the continent.
The agreement forms part of broader efforts by the African Development Bank to mobilise financing, accelerate policy reforms, and improve aviation coordination among African nations.
Nigeria’s aviation reform programme, aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, includes a series of regulatory and policy reforms designed to align the country’s aviation sector with international standards.
Key reforms being pursued include the domestication of the Cape Town Convention, updates to Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation (IDERA) procedures, and improvements to aviation insurance frameworks.
The Minister also presented plans for the proposed Nigeria Aircraft Leasing Company, a flagship initiative aimed at improving access to aircraft financing and lowering operational costs for domestic airlines.
The leasing company, which received Federal Government approval earlier in May 2026, is expected to operate as a Special Purpose Vehicle funded primarily by private investors, while government support will be provided through guarantees rather than direct financing.
The Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme was unveiled by the African Development Bank in February 2026 as a continent-wide initiative focused on transforming Africa’s aviation ecosystem.
The programme is built around three major pillars, including the operationalisation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), strengthening aviation safety oversight, and developing aviation-related technical skills across the continent.
SAATM, an African Union initiative, seeks to liberalise air travel within Africa, improve regional air connectivity, and support increased private sector investment in aviation infrastructure.
Nigeria is among more than 30 African countries participating in the framework and has increasingly positioned itself as a key driver of aviation reform efforts on the continent.
The recent appointment of Festus Keyamo by the AfDB as African Champion of the Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme further underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in the sector and places the country at the centre of implementation efforts for Africa’s aviation transformation agenda.
