Nigeria is opening new doors in international aviation cooperation as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, hosted the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, alongside a high-level delegation from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Abuja on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
The Chinese delegation included senior officials such as Tim Chen, vice-president of AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering Co. Ltd.; Ma Mengyao, general manager of AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering in Nigeria; Deng Zhiliang, deputy marketing director; Michael C. Luo, technology director; and Yang Yang, vice-president of COMAC’s marketing and sales committee.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Dunhai reaffirmed China’s readiness to support Nigeria’s aviation growth, describing the country as a key gateway for Africa.
“Nigeria has the market and the potential. As the economy strengthens, China is prepared to remain a reliable partner in this development journey,” he said.
Keyamo, who has previously visited COMAC’s headquarters in China, welcomed the talks and confirmed that a team of Nigerian airline executives would soon travel to China to continue negotiations.
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“We are ready for this partnership and are prepared to position Nigeria as a hub for COMAC’s access to the wider African market,” the minister stated.
COMAC, the state-backed manufacturer of the C919 and ARJ21 passenger jets, has been expanding its presence in global markets as a competitive alternative to Airbus and Boeing.
Its executives also held a separate session in Abuja with Nigerian airline operators, focusing on long-term cooperation in areas such as aircraft leasing, technical support, and maintenance.
Aviation experts say the twin meetings represent a significant step toward modernizing Nigeria’s aviation sector, offering local airlines opportunities to upgrade their fleets while creating new avenues for bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China.