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The Federal Government has shown commitment towards advancing green aviation across Africa and hosted a high-level regional workshop on financing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
The five-day event, held from May 5 to 9, 2025, in Lagos, brought together stakeholders from 14 African countries, international organisations and SAF project developers to address access to finance, investment risks, and project bankability.
According to a statement signed by Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the event underscored Nigeria’s commitment to climate action and sustainable aviation, while fostering regional cooperation.
Organized by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the workshop formed part of the Assistance, Capacity Building, and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) Africa–India Project.
A highlight of the workshop, as contained in the statement was the formal inauguration of six Technical Working Groups (TWGs) by Chris Najomo, NCAA Director General. These TWGs which includes ; Policy and Regulation; Feedstock and Production; Funding and Investment; Technology and Innovation; Environmental and Social Impact; and Infrastructure and Logistics, will guide Nigeria’s SAF development across key thematic areas.
The final two days of the workshop were dedicated to the Nigeria Engagement on SAF, which focused on developing a domestic roadmap for SAF production and deployment.
The hybrid workshop, themed “Access to Finance for SAF Production,” aimed to confront real-world challenges faced by SAF developers and financiers. It explored de-risking strategies, financial instruments, and the roles of various actors in creating a viable SAF ecosystem in Africa.
Participants included representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), EU delegations to Nigeria and Western and Central African (WACAF), and other global aviation and climate stakeholders.
Speaking at the opening session, Chris Najomo, represented by Bukola Teriba, NCAA’s Regional Manager for Lagos, emphasised the importance of securing financing for SAF projects to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint and achieve ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
