By Gabriel Ameh
BINANI Global Air Services has engaged a global aviation firm for the development of a mega Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Abuja, a project the company says could help retain about $218 million in foreign exchange annually within Nigeria.
The Chairperson of BINANI AIR, Distinguished Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, disclosed this while highlighting the potential significance of the proposed facility to Nigeria’s aviation industry.
According to her, the project aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s aviation sector by expanding local aircraft maintenance capacity and reducing dependence on foreign MRO facilities.
Senator Aishatu said Nigerian airlines currently send a significant portion of their heavy aircraft maintenance checks, including C-checks and D-checks, to facilities outside the country.
“Currently, domestic airlines outsource the vast majority of their heavy maintenance checks, such as C checks and D checks, to foreign facilities in Europe, the Middle East, and other African nations like Egypt and Ethiopia. This project will reduce this dependency while retaining and attracting FX of about 218 million US dollars annually,” she said.
The proposed development comes amid longstanding concerns over the high cost of aircraft maintenance and Nigeria’s reliance on foreign facilities for major maintenance operations.
Heavy maintenance checks require specialised infrastructure, sophisticated equipment and highly skilled aviation engineers and technicians. With limited local capacity for such operations, Nigerian airlines have continued to rely on facilities abroad, resulting in significant foreign exchange expenditure.
A fully operational heavy MRO facility in Nigeria could therefore have implications beyond aircraft maintenance. Industry observers say such a facility could contribute to the development of specialised technical skills, create jobs and support the growth of a broader aviation maintenance ecosystem.
The proposed Abuja facility could also position the Federal Capital Territory as a potential aircraft maintenance hub for Nigerian and other African airlines, subject to its eventual capacity, regulatory approvals and certification.
For BINANI AIR, the proposed investment represents an expansion beyond its operations as a domestic passenger carrier and into infrastructure that could serve the wider aviation industry.
However, the impact of the project will ultimately depend on its execution, financing, construction, regulatory approvals and eventual operational capacity.
Nigeria has for years explored ways to strengthen its local aircraft maintenance capabilities and reduce dependence on overseas facilities. The proposed BINANI AIR project could therefore mark a significant development if it progresses from plans to a fully operational and certified MRO facility capable of handling major aircraft maintenance checks within the country.
