Keyamo meets Chinese envoy, COMAC officials on strengthening ties

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Tuesday hosted the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, along with senior executives of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), in Abuja, as part of efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation in the aviation sector.

Ambassador Yu pledged China’s support for the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry, describing the sector as a key driver of economic growth and regional connectivity. He highlighted Nigeria’s size and market potential, emphasizing China’s readiness to be a reliable partner in the country’s recovery and expansion.

“Nigeria has the market, and I see the potential. The economy is going to bounce back soon, and China is ready to be a reliable partner in this growth trajectory,” the envoy said.

In a separate meeting, COMAC’s Vice President of the Marketing and Sales Committee, Yang Yang, led a delegation that held strategic talks with the minister on potential collaboration with Nigerian airlines. Discussions focused on aircraft leasing, technical support services, and long-term partnerships.

Keyamo, who had earlier visited COMAC’s headquarters in China, welcomed the proposals and announced plans to lead a delegation of Nigerian airline executives to the company’s base. He said Nigeria was open to allowing COMAC to use the country as a hub to penetrate the wider African market.

“We are ready for this collaboration and will soon lead a delegation of domestic airline executives to COMAC’s headquarters to deepen these discussions,” Keyamo said.

According to the ministry, the visits signal a new phase in Nigeria-China aviation relations and could create fresh opportunities for local airlines to access modern aircraft and customized support services.