President Bola Tinubu has announced a partnership between the federal government, U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the UK-based Cranfield University to develop internationally certified Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening of the maiden Nigerian International Airshow in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, confirmed the deal and named the local operators driving the project.
“We have signed agreements with Boeing and Cranfield University to establish MRO facilities and reduce the $200m spent yearly on overseas maintenance,” Akume said, adding that Aero Contractors and XEJet are leading the effort with new hubs planned for Lagos and Abuja.
Strong sector growth underpins expansion
The MRO initiative comes as Nigeria’s aviation sector experiences steady growth. Passenger traffic reached 15.89 million in 2023 and is projected to climb to 25.7 million by 2029, while annual revenue is expected to increase to $2.58 billion.
The industry contributes around 2.5 per cent of the country’s GDP, supported by 20 airports, 23 airlines, and a growing pool of skilled workers, according to official aviation data.
At the same time, regulatory reforms have gathered pace, with Nigeria now ranked as Africa’s leading country in compliance with international aviation standards.
International connectivity is expanding as well, with the government highlighting the growth of Air Peace’s Lagos–London route and the return of Emirates and Uganda Airlines through new bilateral air service agreements.
2024 Boeing MoU laid the groundwork
The new MRO push builds on a 2024 memorandum of understanding signed between Nigeria and Boeing to strengthen aircraft leasing, maintenance and technical support.
The agreement was executed in Seattle by Nigeria’s aviation minister, Festus Keyamo, and Boeing executives. Under the deal, Boeing committed to deliver training, technical support, planning workshops and operational assessments to Nigerian operators.
Its Airports Engineering team was also mandated to advise on airport expansion and the development of local maintenance facilities, now forming the backbone of the current MRO drive.
At the time, Boeing said it supplied 60 airlines operating about 500 aircraft across Africa and projected the continent would require 1,170 new airplanes over the next two decades.
“This partnership marks a major step in modernising Nigerian airlines,” Keyamo said.
Boeing’s vice-president for Commercial Sales for Africa, Anbessie Yitbarek, said the agreement would help build a sustainable civil aviation ecosystem in Nigeria.
Competition and strategic outlook
The newly announced MRO facilities in Lagos and Abuja represent a shift from advisory cooperation to physical infrastructure delivery. However, Nigeria will face competition from established MRO hubs in the Middle East and emerging players across Africa. Rising fleet sizes, cost pressures, and turnaround-time demands are intensifying competition globally.
Still, officials say Nigeria’s scale, geographic position, and expanding airline network offer a strategic advantage. Akume cited the country’s participation at the recent Dubai Airshow: “At the Dubai Airshow, Nigeria showcased its readiness to collaborate on next-generation aviation and defence technologies.”
