Nigeria's BUA Group adds first Africa-based Global 8000

Nigeria-based multinational BUA Group (Lagos), with interests in cement, food, oil and gas, energy, infrastructure, ports and terminals, and real estate, has taken delivery of the first Global 8000 based in Africa, Bombardier Business Aircraft announced.

“The Global 8000 offers the range, speed, comfort, and reliability required to support our international business activities,” said Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and chairman of BUA Group.

The brand-new aircraft, registered in the United States as N23AR (msn 70256), became active on May 25 performing a circuit around Bombardier's Montréal Trudeau production facilities. On June 9, the jet was ferried to Hartford Bradley, home to one of Bombardier's main service centres, with a stop at Burlington, VT, and has yet to be ferried to Nigeria.

BUA Group's corporate jet fleet includes two other Bombardier aircraft, namely a 2023-built Challenger 3500 and a Global 6500 manufactured in 2022, both based at Lagos. It is unclear whether the Global 8000 replaces the Global 6500, which has remained parked at Lagos since September 24, 2025.