In 2021, Babatunde Afolabi, then 39, entered Nigeria’s highly competitive aviation space with the launch of Green Africa, a low-cost airline designed to make air travel more accessible to Nigerians.
At the time, Green Africa did not own any aircraft. Instead, the airline began operations through a wet lease arrangement — a common practice in Nigeria’s aviation industry. Under this model, an aircraft is leased from a foreign lessor along with its crew, including pilots and cabin staff, for an agreed monthly fee. Operational control, safety oversight and regulatory compliance remain the responsibility of the lessor.
This explains why passengers on local flights often see foreign pilots and cabin crew. While the aircraft may carry the branding of a Nigerian airline, it is, in many cases, owned and operated under a wet lease by a foreign company. This differs from a dry lease, where only the aircraft is provided and the local airline supplies its own crew.
Green Africa commenced operations with three aircraft acquired through this leasing model. For a while, business progressed steadily for the budget airline. However, challenges emerged in 2025.
On March 31, 2025, aircraft lessor ACIA Aero Leasing repossessed three ATR 72-600 aircraft that were being used by Green Africa for its commercial operations. The repossession was swift and unexpected, forcing the airline to announce a temporary suspension of flights, which extended beyond the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.
The sudden loss of its leased aircraft marked a critical moment for the airline. In response, Green Africa took a significant step by acquiring its first owned aircraft — an ATR 72-500 with serial number 852, registered as 5N-GAB. The acquisition was made possible through financial support from Access Bank, which provided a loan to help the airline secure its first tangible aviation asset.
That move appears to have paid off.
Reports now indicate that Green Africa has acquired a second aircraft, an ATR 72-600, which arrived recently, effectively doubling its owned fleet. Once again, the acquisition was supported by Access Bank.
Speaking on the partnership, Access Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Roosevelt Ogbonna, said the collaboration reflects the bank’s confidence in enterprises that are transforming critical sectors of the economy. He noted that following the strong performance of Green Africa’s first owned aircraft, the bank was pleased to extend further support for the second acquisition, adding that the transaction would boost capacity and accelerate sustainable growth.
Green Africa’s journey highlights a notable path within Nigeria’s aviation industry. When the airline launched in 2021, it lacked the capital and leverage to immediately purchase aircraft. Rather than delay its plans, it began operations using available structures within the industry. Over time, operational performance and consistency helped attract institutional confidence.
Today, the airline is gradually transitioning from reliance on leased aircraft to building an owned fleet — a milestone many young carriers struggle to reach.
For observers, the story underscores how strategic entry, even with limited resources, can open doors to growth when paired with execution and credibility. In a sector as capital-intensive as aviation, Green Africa’s evolution offers a quiet but telling case study of starting where possible and scaling over time.