Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward ending decades of dependence on foreign maintenance facilities by signing landmark agreements with Boeing and Cranfield University for the establishment of state-of-the-art Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centres.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Senator George Akume at the Nigeria International Airshow in Abuja, said the development is expected to drastically reduce the more than $200 million spent annually by Nigerian airlines on overseas aircraft checks.
Tinubu acknowledged that the absence of a robust MRO facility has been a key driver of capital flight in the aviation industry. He noted that Aero Contractors and XEJet are already setting the pace with new maintenance hubs emerging in Lagos and Abuja.
The planned MRO, he said, will strengthen fleet reliability, boost local technical capacity, and increase investor confidence in Nigerian airlines—especially given the country’s improved Cape Town Convention compliance score, which now stands at 75.5%.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the agreements represent a bold commitment to making Nigeria a global aviation investment destination.
He described the airshow as Nigeria’s first step toward joining the international exhibition circuit dominated by Paris, Dubai, Farnborough, and Singapore.
Keyamo highlighted several ongoing reforms, including upgraded safety frameworks, improved airspace digitalisation, strengthened aircraft leasing policies, and expanded training programmes for aviation professionals.
“This airshow is a statement of intent,” he declared. “We are ready to lead, innovate, and compete globally. Nigeria will no longer be a junior partner in the aviation value chain—we’re building facilities that keep our aircraft and our revenue at home.”
