The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has entered into a Public-Private Partnership with a private firm to establish a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility for aircraft.
A representative of the Ministry, who requested to remain anonymous due to a lack of authorization to speak publicly on the matter, shared details of the agreement.
According to the source, the new facility will operate as an Approved Maintenance Organisation under the oversight of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, ensuring it meets the country’s aviation safety and regulatory standards.
The representative said, “AMO approved by the NCAA is meant to perform specific aircraft maintenance activities, which activities may include the inspection, overhaul, maintenance, repair, and/or alteration and release to service of aircraft or aeronautical products.”
The official further emphasized that this new MRO facility, a pioneering development in Nigeria, is strategically positioned to meet the increasing demand for aircraft maintenance services within the country. Currently, many airlines face the challenge of sending their aircraft abroad for repairs, which incurs significant costs and leads to long turnaround times.
He added that the timeline for the start of construction and eventual operations is not yet clear, noting that the actual “date of commercial operations will be the date on which the NCAA grants the concessionaire approvals and licenses as required by the concessionaire in the agreement.”
The source added that “all necessary activities are underway to make the contract effective.”
When asked about timelines, the official said, “I don’t have those timelines. There are some actions to make the contract effective, which we are working speedily to achieve before we talk about actual construction and operations of the facilities.”
In August, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo announced that the government had finalized plans to begin the bidding process for the establishment of MRO facilities in Nigeria.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the country’s aviation infrastructure and reduce dependence on expensive foreign MRO services.
Keyamo also revealed that the project would be carried out through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, citing the capital-intensive nature of the venture.
