FG signs agreement for new aircraft maintenance facility

• Published On: 10 November 2024 at 18:08

The federal government, through the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has formed a public-private partnership with a private firm to establish an aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility.

A Ministry representative, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorisation to speak publicly on the subject, shared information about the agreement.

According to the source, the new facility will be an Approved Maintenance Organisation overseen by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, ensuring compliance with the country's aviation safety and regulatory standards.

The spokesperson stated: "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 also emphasised that this new MRO facility, a pioneering development in Nigeria, is well-positioned to meet the country's growing demand for aircraft maintenance services. Currently, many airlines face the challenge of sending their aircraft abroad for repairs, which incurs significant costs and results in lengthy turnaround times.

He added that the timeline for the start of construction and eventual operations is still unknown, 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 also stated that "all necessary activities are underway to make the contract effective."

When asked about timelines, the official responded, "I do not have those timelines. There are some actions that must be taken to make the contract effective, which we are working hard to complete before moving on to actual facility construction and operation."

In August, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced that the government had finalised plans to begin the bidding process for the establishment of MRO facilities in Nigeria.

The initiative is part of a larger effort to improve the country's aviation infrastructure and reduce its reliance on costly foreign MRO services.

Keyamo also revealed that the project would be carried out under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, citing the venture's capital-intensive nature.

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