Yemi Olakitan
In a bid to reduce foreign exchange expenditure and create jobs, Nigerian stakeholders at the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Global event in Dublin, Ireland, have made a strong case for the establishment of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Nigeria on Tuesday.
Industry experts, including Herbert Odika and Hadiza Usman, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy and coordination, emphasized the benefits of having local MRO facilities. These benefits include reduced foreign exchange expenditure, job creation, and enhanced operational efficiency for local airlines.
According to Odika, “Having MROs in Nigeria would benefit the airlines irrespective of the risk assessments that would be carried out.” Usman added that a robust local MRO industry would “reduce the reliance on foreign facilities, cutting down the demand for foreign exchange required for overseas maintenance.
The establishment of local MRO facilities is seen as critical to Nigeria’s aviation sector growth, particularly with plans to adopt dry leasing arrangements with Boeing. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been commended for streamlining regulatory frameworks to attract investment into MRO facilities and foster partnerships with global aviation leaders.
As Nigeria seeks to expand its aviation sector, the call for local MRO facilities is gaining momentum. With its potential to create jobs, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency, the establishment of MRO facilities in Nigeria is poised to take the country’s aviation industry to new heights.
