The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), on 17th September, 2025 performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Air Peace Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Keyamo stated that the landmark project, supported by Fidelity Bank and the Bank of Industry, is being realized in partnership with Embraer of Brazil and will be providing full technical backing to ensure global-standard aircraft maintenance services, a statement by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Odutayo Oluseyi noted.
He added that the facility will not only serve Nigerian airlines but also position the nation as a regional hub for aircraft maintenance.
He reiterated that his mandate is to nurture and grow indigenous businesses in the aviation sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He assured stakeholders that Nigerian airlines will soon begin to enjoy incentives similar to their international counterparts, and disclosed that the first-ever dry lease transaction in Nigeria will take place within weeks.
“This success is part of Mr. President’s vision. We are only driving it to reality. No sector can thrive without strong financial support, and the commitment of our banks today is a testimony to the confidence in aviation,” Keyamo stated.
He further informed the audience that the project, which began as a vision nine years ago, has now come to fruition under the administration of President Tinubu, as one of the direct gains of his recent state visit to Brazil.
Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, in his remarks commended the Federal Government for its consistent support for indigenous airlines and revealed that the new MRO facility has the potential to create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, while saving the industry over N180 billion annually in offshore aircraft maintenance costs.
The Air Peace MRO project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
