The agreement was formalized during the maiden edition of the Nigerian Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit (NAAIS 2026), held on Wednesday and Thursday in Abuja, officials confirmed on Friday.
According to Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for Nigerian operators by easing access to aircraft acquisition and leasing options.
“The partnership will leverage AFG’s deep technical expertise alongside Fidelity Bank’s strong financial capacity to provide structured, sustainable financing solutions tailored to the needs of the aviation industry,” Moshood said in a statement.
NAAIS 2026, an initiative of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, was designed to tackle long-standing challenges around aircraft financing and acquisition in Nigeria. The summit reportedly exceeded expectations, producing concrete commitments and deal pathways aimed at repositioning the nation’s aviation ecosystem.
Operators and Financiers Forge New Deals
The summit featured four specialized “deal rooms,” each addressing key areas of the aviation sector: finance, regulation, infrastructure, and policy.
- Deal Room A focused on aircraft leasing and acquisition. Five Nigerian operators reached agreements with ATR and Formidion, signaling progress toward fleet expansion.
- Deal Room B, dedicated to financing and policy, saw the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) commit to a sector-wide awareness session in collaboration with the bankers’ committee. Embraer also pledged to introduce Nigerian operators to its Export Credit Agency financing pathway, while FSD Asset Finance agreed to develop a working paper guiding future aviation investments.
- Deal Room C addressed regulatory compliance, with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) promising clarity on the 10 percent local retention policy for aircraft acquisition and technical support for operators.
- Deal Room D centered on infrastructure development. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Afreximbank agreed to deepen collaboration on priority aviation projects, including the development of a bankable project pipeline for submission to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). Discussions also advanced plans for an aerotropolis at Lagos airport in partnership with First Metro Infrastructure and Afreximbank.
Moshood said the successful execution of the AFG–Fidelity partnership, coupled with commitments across the four deal rooms, has set a clear path for improved aircraft access, stronger financial structures, and enhanced collaboration across Nigeria’s aviation value chain.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) director-general, Chris Najomo, announced that the second edition of NAAIS will hold on April 1 and 2, 2027, signaling continuity in efforts to strengthen the country’s aviation sector.