Southeast misses Airpeace MRO facility as land disputes and other hurdles deny the region thousands of job and investment opportunities.
Nigeria’s aviation sector marked a major milestone with the commissioning of Airpeace’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the 34,000 square meter facility. He celebrated the project as a “game changer.”
According to Keyame, the MRO will save billions in foreign exchange, end decades of capital flight, and position Lagos as an regional hub for aircraft servicing.
But while Lagos celebrates, the Southeast is counting the cost of a missed opportunity. Onyema pushed hard to have the MRO in Enugu or Anambra. His efforts ended in land disputes, poor political will, and lack of vision from regional leaders.
Air Peace had initially pushed to locate the facility in Enugu and later in Anambra when talks fell through in Enugu. With no decisive intervention from state governments, the airline abandoned the Southeast and turned to Lagos.
What really happened? Enugu Metro dug into the story and has served the result in this riveting investigative story of why Southeast lost.
Why the Southeast Lost Nigeria’s Biggest MRO Project to Lagos
Investigations expose how land disputes and poor leadership cost the Southeast Airpeace’s world-class MRO facility, now about to boost Lagos
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Southeast Nigeria misses opportunity to host Airpeace’s MRO Facility, now located in Lagos State.
The MRO benefits, by Allen Onyema
Air Peace Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, says the airline’s N32 billion MRO facility will create over 50,000 jobs when completed.
He spoke yesterday at the groundbreaking ceremony at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. He disclosed that the 34,000-square-metre project, acquired eight years ago, will be ready in 24 months.
The MRO, he said, would service Air Peace’s fleet as well as aircraft from other local and international airlines. It will also attract foreign investment, boost Nigeria’s aviation industry, and reduce reliance on overseas maintenance centres. He recalled how airlines often struggle to secure slots especially in South Africa.
Onyema described the milestone as a major step towards positioning Nigeria as a hub for aircraft maintenance.