Vivajets, a front-line Nigerian business airline, advocates for reducing barriers to air travel in Africa. Recently, Abidjan's CEO forum, Abidjan, the company's CEO Chukwuerika Achum, Cote D'Ivoire, issued Clarion's call for the emergency demolition of long-standing obstacles in the African aviation industry.
Vivajets, a brand of Falcon Aerospace Limited, offers aircraft charter, management, sales and acquisition services with a focus on innovation and accessibility. The company recently obtained an Air Driving Certificate (AOC) from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) amid the rapid global expansion of the past two years.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Achum pointed to the need for improved air connectivity within Africa, saying aviation is a key driver of economic integration and growth on the continent.
“Today it's easier to fly from Lagos to London from Lagos to Abidjan,” Achum said, pointing to the inefficiency and fragmentation that continues to plague the continent's aviation network. He emphasized that air travel within Africa remains expensive, rare and operationally troublesome, impedimental conditions that hinder the progress of the entire sector, from trade to tourism to investment.
Achum also spoke about the sector's structural challenges and new opportunities. He noted that the combination of limited infrastructure, overregulation, and inadequate collaboration between African countries limits the ability of both commercial and private to effectively scale across borders.
“Our sky is still segmented by outdated contracts and policies,” he said. “What Africa needs is a unified, modern aviation strategy that prioritizes accessibility, innovation and collaboration.”
When asked whether Africa is ready to start manufacturing aircraft parts locally, Achum replied that such ambition must lead to market reality. “We don't build manufacturing bases just to create political points,” he said. “There must be volume. There must be demand. We cannot support large quantities of high-tech manufacturing on the continent until trade and logistics within Africa grows significantly.”
The aviation tycoon expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of follow-through in its policy. “We hear all the right things, but when it's time to act, nothing happens,” he said. “Even something as basic as getting a business jet landing permit from Lagos to Abidjan can take up to 48 hours.”
He added that the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) travel certificates, designed to promote free movement within the region, is not recognized in some member states, including Ivory Coast. “We say we want regional integration, but it's often easier to fly from Lagos to Paris from Lagos to Abidjan,” Achum said.
He concluded with an optimistic memo and expressed confidence in Africa's long-term aviation potential.
“We are a continent of over 1.4 billion people, with growing cities, industries and innovation hubs. With aviation right, we unlock a future where Africans can move, trade and connect freely.
