Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline and national flag carrier, has broken ground on the construction of a state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The world-class project, estimated at N32 billion, will sit on a 34,000-square-metre site at Terminal 2 and is projected to create over 50,000 jobs while transforming Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Air Peace Chairman and CEO, Allen Onyema, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), for their pivotal support in bringing the long-awaited project to reality. “This project was conceived nine years ago, the land was paid for eight years ago, but it took this administration to make it happen within a year,” Onyema said. “Last year alone, Air Peace spent almost N180 billion on overseas maintenance. With this MRO, we will cut down capital flight, save foreign exchange, attract international investment, and boost local employment.”
The facility, which will be completed in 15 months, is designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 777 as well as multiple smaller aircraft simultaneously. It will feature a 6,150 sqm hangar, a 5,000 sqm apron, 2,800 sqm of storage, 1,500 sqm of workshops, and a four-storey administrative building. Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is providing technical expertise for the project, further ensuring global standards of operation.
Minister Festus Keyamo described the initiative as a “national treasure” that reflects the government’s unwavering support for local airlines. “We are unapologetic about supporting Nigerian carriers,” he said. “While some call me the ‘Minister of Local Airlines,’ I wear that as a badge of honour because the survival and growth of our airlines is vital to the nation’s aviation future. The only thing we will never compromise is safety and standards.”
The project has also attracted the backing of key financial institutions. Ifeoma Uz’Okpala, Executive Director of Large Enterprises at the Bank of Industry (BOI), highlighted the alignment of the facility with BOI’s mandate. “This project will reduce maintenance costs, enhance efficiency, and keep investments and jobs in Nigeria,” she said. Abolore Solebo, Executive Director at Fidelity Bank, noted the bank’s long-standing partnership with Air Peace since 2016, saying the project underscores Fidelity’s commitment to supporting Nigerian enterprises.
Industry leaders, financial partners, and government representatives present at the event hailed the facility as a landmark investment that will reduce reliance on foreign MRO services and position Nigeria as a central hub for aviation maintenance in Africa.
With this groundbreaking, Air Peace is not only advancing its own vision but also driving the transformation of Nigeria’s aviation landscape, strengthening local capacity, and ensuring world-class services for both domestic and international carriers.
