By Gloria Ikibah
BINANI Global Air Services has engaged a global aviation firm to develop a mega Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Abuja, in a move expected to retain about $218 million in foreign exchange annually in Nigeria.
The project, which is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is aimed at boosting local aircraft maintenance capacity and reducing Nigerian airlines’ dependence on foreign maintenance centres. 
Chairperson of BINANI Air, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, said the facility would address one of the major challenges confronting the country’s aviation industry — the huge cost of sending aircraft abroad for major maintenance checks.
She said most Nigerian airlines currently rely on overseas facilities for C and D checks, leading to significant foreign exchange outflows.
According to her, the proposed MRO facility will not only help keep more aircraft in Nigeria for major maintenance but also strengthen the country’s technical capacity and support the growth of the aviation sector.
She said: “Currently, domestic airlines outsource the vast majority of their heavy maintenance checks, such as C checks and D checks, to foreign facilities in Europe, the Middle East, and other African nations like Egypt and Ethiopia. This project will reduce this dependency while retaining and attracting FX of about 218 million US dollars annually”.
The proposed facility comes amid persistent concerns over the high cost of aircraft maintenance and Nigeria’s reliance on overseas MRO centres.
C and D checks require specialised infrastructure, sophisticated equipment and highly skilled personnel, which have historically been limited in Nigeria. As a result, airlines have had to send their aircraft abroad, paying for the services in foreign currency.
A functional heavy maintenance facility in Nigeria can also boost the country’s technical workforce and create specialised employment opportunities, while supporting the emergence of a wider aviation maintenance ecosystem.
The facility can further position Abuja as a potential MRO hub for Nigerian and other African airlines, subject to its eventual capacity, regulatory approvals and certification.
Senator Ahmed said the investment represents an expansion of its role beyond domestic passenger operations into infrastructure capable of serving the wider aviation industry.
However, the project’s significance will ultimately depend on its execution and the ability to translate years of discussions about local MRO capacity into a fully operational facility.
The proposed Abuja MRO will mark a major shift for Nigeria’s aviation industry if it succeeds in keeping aircraft at home for major maintenance checks and reducing the country’s dependence on foreign facilities.
