The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced an ongoing plan to create an aircraft manufacturing company in Nigeria.
Keyamo shared this information at the inauguration of XeJet’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and flight support center in Abuja on Wednesday.
Keyamo emphasized that this initiative is in line with the government’s objective to assist local operators and enhance the country’s aviation sector.
This facility represents a partnership between XeJet and local banks, with the goal of positioning Nigeria as a regional center for aviation services.
The Minister stated: “Since we came to office, we’ve been focused on attracting MRO facilities to our aviation ecosystem, just as they exist in other parts of the world.
“We’ve searched far and wide for investors, but now we see that what we were looking for elsewhere is right here at home. This collaboration between an indigenous operator and local banks is a dream come true.”
Emphasizing the project’s significance, the minister noted the inclusion of additional facilities, such as a training centre, which he described as “a huge achievement.”
Keyamo added: “This development will not only serve Nigeria but will attract users from across the West African sub-region. That’s the dream—to make this facility a regional center for excellence.”
Speaking on the broader vision, the Chief Executive Officer of XEJet, Emmanuel Iza, highlighted plans to position Nigeria on the global map of aircraft manufacturing, repairs and operations.
“The vision is ambitious. It is to contribute to aircraft manufacturing, even if it’s just components like wings, landing gears, or tires. Nigeria has the talent and ability; we just need the enabling environment and facilities to make it happen,” he said.
Iza highlighted the employment opportunities that the multi-million dollar project is anticipated to create for Nigerians, mentioning that XeJet currently employs approximately 300 individuals.
With the establishment of this new facility, he said the organization anticipate increasing that figure fourfold.
The initial phase encompasses site preparation, which includes grading the land and building a taxiway to link the runway with the facility, with an estimated cost of $5 million.
He also pointed out that the construction of the facility will necessitate a similar financial commitment.
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