Amanze Chinonye
Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has begun construction of a ₦32 billion Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos an ambitious project officials say will keep billions of naira at home and position the country as a West African aviation hub.
The facility will occupy a 34,000-square-metre site acquired by the airline eight years ago and will feature a 6,150 m² clear-span hangar capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777ER.
It will also include apron space, workshops, storage areas, a 2,600 m² technical workshop, a 2,000 m² warehouse, and a four-storey office complex. When completed, it will handle maintenance for Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and private jets, serving both Air Peace’s fleet and other local and foreign airlines.
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Confirming the development on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Air Peace wrote:
“Two days ago, we achieved a significant milestone in the Nigerian aviation industry officially commencing the Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
This leading-edge project will not only revolutionize aviation in Nigeria, it will also empower a new generation of engineers and attract global investments. It’s a strong declaration of Nigeria’s potential and our commitment to national growth.”
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Massive Savings and Job Creation
Air Peace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Allen Onyema said the project is expected to create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs and drastically reduce the country’s heavy foreign-exchange outflows.
“This MRO will create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs. Engineers and technical staff will be trained. There will be shops for brakes, wheels, and batteries,” Onyema said, disclosing that Nigerian airlines spend “over ₦180 billion annually” on overseas maintenance.
Industry estimates put Nigeria’s annual capital flight on offshore aircraft maintenance at over $2.5 billion.
Partnerships and Government Backing
The MRO is being developed in technical partnership with Embraer of Brazil, which will advise on hangar and capacity planning, tooling and ground-support equipment, and provide technical training and performance benchmarks.
The Bank of Industry and Fidelity Bank are providing financial support. Fidelity says the project aligns with its mandate to stimulate industrial growth, while the Bank of Industry has pledged continued backing for indigenous aviation enterprises.
Performing the groundbreaking, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo hailed the project as a “national treasure.”
“This facility will save foreign exchange, reduce capital flight, and attract operators from West and Central Africa to Nigeria for their maintenance needs,” Keyamo said, pledging sustained government support for indigenous carriers.
Regional Context
Independent aviation data confirm that only a handful of African countries such as Ethiopia, South Africa, and Kenya currently operate full-service MRO hangars capable of heavy maintenance for wide-body aircraft and third-party airlines. Much of Central Africa remains without comparable capacity, forcing carriers to send aircraft abroad for major checks.
While Ethiopia and South Africa run multiple large facilities, these primarily serve their national airlines and a limited number of external customers. Nigeria’s new project therefore represents one of the very few multi-aircraft, third-party MRO hubs in sub-Saharan Africa outside those established markets, underscoring its strategic significance.
Construction is projected to take 15 to 24 months, with some partners indicating that limited operations could commence in about 15 months, while the Federal Ministry of Aviation sets 24 months as the target for full completion.
Nigeria’s airlines currently send virtually all heavy aircraft checks abroad, draining scarce foreign exchange and raising operating costs. By building world-class maintenance capacity in Lagos, Air Peace aims to retain billions of naira within the economy, improve aircraft turnaround times, and train a new generation of Nigerian aviation engineers.
Analysts say the project could help lower ticket costs, improve flight reliability, and establish Lagos as a regional MRO hub, attracting carriers from across West and Central Africa.
If completed on schedule, the facility will not only secure a competitive edge for Air Peace but also mark a critical step toward making Nigeria a self-reliant aviation powerhouse.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
