Nigeria’s Air Peace has confirmed that the construction of a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos, set to be the largest in West Africa, is now underway.
Last week, Air Peace led a ground-breaking ceremony at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, where 34,000 square metres of land has been earmarked for the NGN 32bn ($21.5m) project.
The site will feature a 6,200sqm hangar, a 2,000sqm warehouse, a 2,600sqm workshop, a 1,500sqm office building, and a 10,000sqm apron for aircraft parking.
Dr. Allen Onyema, chair and CEO of Air Peace, said the MRO facility is expected to create over 50,000 jobs, train a new generation of engineers and technicians, and significantly reduce capital flight.
Last year, the CEO added, Air Peace spent more than NGN 180bn ($120m) on MRO overseas.
“This facility will change that narrative,” he said. “It will not only service Air Peace aircraft, but also those of other Nigerian and international airlines.
“In the next 24 months, Nigeria will begin attracting direct foreign investment, as airlines from Africa, Europe and the Americas bring their aircraft here."
With the capacity to accommodate a Boeing 777 and five other aircraft simultaneously, the MRO will be the largest facility of its kind in Africa, reducing Nigeria’s reliance on similar infrastructure in South Africa and Ethiopia.
Technical support for the facility will be provided by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, described the project as a “national treasure”, noting that it will be patronised by Nigeria’s presidential fleet, among other national and international aircraft.
“This is not just Air Peace’s day, it is Nigeria’s day,” he said. “This hangar will save us billions in foreign exchange, attract foreign airlines to Nigeria, and create unprecedented opportunities for our people.
“For the first time in decades, confidence has returned to Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
“That is why I personally stood as guarantor to secure aircraft leases for Air Peace, and why I will continue to support all local airlines to grow.”
The land for the project was purchased by Air Peace eight years ago, but construction has since been delayed by “procedural and administrative hurdles”, according to Onyema.
The Air Peace CEO therefore thanked Keyamo and Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, for giving the project the green light.
“In less than one year, they made it possible for us to stand here today,” he said.
“This is the first time Nigerian airlines are receiving massive support, and we at Air Peace are proud to be part of this history.”