The Chairman of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, says the airline’s N32 billion Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility will create over 50,000 jobs.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the development of the facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos Onyema expressed his excitement over the milestone, noting that the airline acquired the 34,000-square-metre land eight years ago in anticipation of this historic project.
He explained that the facility would service not only Air Peace aircraft, but also those belonging to other local and international airlines.
According to him, the facility will be in place within 24 months and it will attract significant foreign investment into Nigerian aviation sector.
Onyema explained that it has become difficult abroad to secure maintenance slots, forcing many airlines to South Africa and that the facility will hopefully reverse the trend in Nigeria’s favour.
He commended the contributions of Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, for enhancing Nigeria’s global aviation visibility.
He said that Mr. Keyamo ensured that the capacity of domestic operators increased substantiall.
“The coming of President Bola Tinubu and his appointment of a square peg in a square hole has propelled aviation to new heights. We are beneficiaries.
“The ease of doing business has returned. For the first time, airlines are being massively supported to achieve their dreams.
“Last year alone, we spent over N180 billion on aircraft maintenance abroad. The capital flight on spares and repairs is alarming,” he said.
He assured that the facility would attract foreign airlines, including those from Europe and the Americas, because maintenance slots are increasingly scarce abroad.
He stressed that the MRO would eventually operate independently, servicing Air Peace, other Nigerian airlines, and international carriers.
Onyema disclosed that Air Peace had signed a partnership agreement with Embraer of Brazil to provide maintenance support and ensuring Embraer aircraft worldwide could be serviced in Nigeria.
He said that the facility would also cater for Boeing, Airbus, and private jets, thereby curbing capital flight.
“This MRO will create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs. Engineers and technical staff will be trained. There will be shops for brakes, wheels, and batteries,” Onyema added.
GIK/APA