Most Nigerian Airlines Fly Old, Second-Hand Planes — Chinese-Australian Aviation Vlogger, Sam Chui

A Chinese-Australian aviation vlogger, Sam Chui, has raised concerns about the state of Nigeria’s commercial aviation industry.

In his recent video posted on YouTube, Chui said most Nigerian airlines operate old and second-hand planes, with the exception of Ibom Air’s A220 and Air Peace’s Embraer 195 E2.

Chui attributed the underdevelopment of Nigeria’s commercial aviation to two major issues: a lack of United States’ dollars for airlines to pay financiers and the requirement for airlines to take insurance locally, which no lessors want to do.

He added that there are more private jets in Nigeria than commercial planes, noting that political decisions significantly impact airline survivability in the country.

He said: “Nigeria has Africa’s largest GDP and the largest population but the commercial aviation seen in the country is sadly underdeveloped. Two particular issues are stopping commercial aviation to grow in Nigeria.

“There is a massive lack of US Dollars for airlines to pay financiers. Nigeria mandates airlines to take insurance locally but no lessors wants to place their aircraft in Nigeria locally. Airline survivability is also heavily influenced by political decisions. There are even more private jets in Nigeria than commercial planes. So most airlines are just flying old and second-hand aircraft except Ibom Air A220 and AirPeace Embraer 195  E2,” he added.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had recently explained that Nigerian airlines were not allowed to fly into the United States of America because they did not attain the required Category 1 status.

This was explained in a statement signed by the Acting Director General, of Civil Aviation, Nigeria, Capt. Chris Najomo, last Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement reads: “The attention of the NCAA has again been drawn to a publication about the purported ban on Nigerian airlines by the United States.

“Due to the wrong impression such news could create, it has become expedient that we put this report in its proper perspective.
“Upon attaining Category 1, Nigerian airlines would be permitted to operate Nigerian registered aircraft and dry-leased foreign registered aircraft into the United States, in line with the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA),” he said.