Nigerian billionaire industrialist, Abdulsamad Rabiu, has capped an exceptional year of financial and business achievements by purchasing the Bombardier Global 8000, the manufacturer’s newest flagship aircraft.

The deal was signed on 4 December 2025 at BUA’s Dubai office after weeks of discreet negotiations, just days before the aircraft officially entered service on 8 December 2025, making Rabiu the first African owner of the coveted ultra-long-range business jet, which is priced between $78–82 million and can reach $85–95 million when fitted with bespoke interiors.

It will join BUA’s corporate fleet, which already includes a Challenger 350 and a Global 6500, creating one of the most advanced aviation line-ups owned by any African conglomerate.

By 10 December 2025, Forbes’ real-time billionaire tracker valued his wealth at 8.5 billion dollars, reflecting a gain of 3.4 billion dollars within a year.

This surge allowed Rabiu to surpass both Adenuga and Sawiris, securing the fourth position in Africa and ranking 390th globally.

The Bombardier Global 8000 is described as the world’s fastest civilian aircraft since the Concorde. With a top speed of Mach 0.95 and a range of 8,000 nautical miles, it can fly non-stop from Lagos to New York or Dubai to Houston.

The jet features four fully appointed living spaces, advanced aerodynamics, and the lowest cabin altitude of any business aircraft.

For a businessman with expanding operations across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, the aircraft offers both speed and efficiency, combining practicality with prestige.

BUA Group Expansion and Strategic Investments

Rabiu’s selection of aircraft comes at a period of significant growth for BUA, which has proactively expanded operations across food, cement, and infrastructure in 2025.

Building on this momentum, the group has entered into a series of strategic partnerships in the food sector to enhance production capacity and broaden market reach.

In December 2025, it signed an agreement with Bühler to establish a new 32-tonnes-per-hour rice processing line.

Earlier in the year, BUA collaborated with Türkiye’s Viteral Integrated Milling Systems to construct a 40-tonnes-per-hour animal feed mill in Kano, slated for completion by mid-2027. The facility will be located in the state’s grain belt, close to major livestock markets in northern Nigeria.

In addition, an agreement with Italian firm FAVA will increase annual pasta output by 400,000 metric tonnes, adding nine long-cut production lines.

These initiatives have collectively strengthened the performance of BUA’s core businesses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the food division posted a net profit of $283.5 million on revenue of $987 million, a 101% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Beyond the food sector, the company has advanced several capital-intensive projects in the industrial and infrastructure space. This includes a 65-million-dollar investment to renovate Terminal B at the Rivers Port Complex in Port Harcourt, alongside the integrated refinery project in Akwa Ibom, supported by a dedicated gas-fired power plant.

Meanwhile, on the cement side, capacity has expanded in Sokoto and Edo while sustaining strong revenue and profit growth, aided by Rabiu’s decision to pursue more competitive pricing.

The arrival of the new model marks a new era for the manufacturer as it competes with rivals such as the Gulfstream G800 and Dassault’s upcoming Falcon 10X. Bombardier executives describe the aircraft as the ultimate business jet, combining innovative design, comfort, and performance.

For Rabiu, the purchase is both a reward for an excellent year and a strategic investment for the future.

As his businesses deepen their reach and Nigeria’s private sector grows in scale, the Global 8000 offers a faster and more efficient way to connect key markets. It also places him in a distinctive class of global business leaders who operate at the highest edge of corporate aviation.

With delivery expected before the end of the year, 2025, the aircraft will become a central tool for BUA’s next phase of expansion. For the billionaire who has climbed to new heights this year, it is both a symbol of accomplishment and a statement of ambition. (Business Insider Africa)

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