Nigeria has taken a leading role in the push for greener aviation across Africa, hosting a high-level regional workshop on financing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. The five-day hybrid event, held in Lagos, brought together stakeholders from 14 African countries under the theme: “Access to Finance for SAF Production.”
Organized by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in partnership with the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the workshop formed part of the ACT-SAF Africa–India Project. It addressed key challenges in SAF investment, project bankability, and risk mitigation strategies critical to advancing clean aviation energy across the continent.
Coordinated by Mrs. Yinka Iriobe of the NCAA’s Directorate of Air Transport Regulations, the event featured expert presentations from international financial institutions, SAF technology developers, and policymakers. Discussions focused on unlocking funding mechanisms, identifying scalable technologies, and establishing robust sustainability frameworks for SAF deployment.
A significant highlight of the workshop was the inauguration of six Technical Working Groups by NCAA Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo. The groups will focus on policy and regulation, financing strategies, technology development, environmental impact assessments, feedstock sourcing, and infrastructure — all geared toward supporting Nigeria’s SAF roadmap.
Speaking through Bukola Teriba, Regional Manager of the NCAA Lagos Office, Capt. Najomo underscored the critical role of financing in cutting aviation-related emissions and achieving the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Long-Term Aspirational Goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The workshop marks a major step in building regional capacity and collaboration for a more sustainable aviation future in Africa.