Experts have projected that Nigerian airlines would expend over $2 billion on aircraft maintenance overseas in 2026, despite availability of such facilities in Nigeria.
Currently, Nigeria has Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, which include Aero Contractors’ Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO), 7 Star Global Hangar, and Execujet Aviation Group facility, but airlines still ferry their aircraft overseas for major checks.
The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told THISDAY that Nigerian carriers take their aircraft overseas because the local maintenance facilities are yet to build the necessary capabilities that could enable them carry out major checks on many aircraft types.
“They are also yet to have trained and experienced manpower to conduct high level maintenance services,” he said.
Sanusi who rebuilt the maintenance facility at Aero Contractors, told THISDAY that the facilities also needed skilled manpower, the right tooling and other critical equipment, disclosing that Aero Contractors is equipping its facility, training technical personnel and acquiring the needed tooling so as to be able to service different aircraft types and embark on major checks in the foreseeable future.
“The reason why airlines still take their aircraft overseas for maintenance is because the facilities in Nigeria are yet to have the capabilities, trained personnel and tooling required to conduct major checks. Aero is expanding its facility, it has sent engineers overseas for training. So, the major requirement is not just the facility but the right personnel and tooling,” he said.
He also said the facilities in Nigeria must have the capability to conduct engine overhaul, auxiliary power unit (APU) overhaul, landing gear, avionics and others; “so, the facility operator must have trained personnel with experience to be able to conduct major checks in Nigeria.”
“When you build the capability, you train your personnel, you need experienced engineers, then you build trust so that airlines can trust you with their aircraft. At Aero Contractors, we are getting the tools, training our personnel and we are creating jobs. We have continued to create jobs and we are putting people in specialised arears like avionics, air frame, hydraulics. We are building capacity and acquired Ground Support Equipment (GSE),” he said.
Speaking about the challenges faced by local aircraft maintenance organisations, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, 7Star Global Hangar Limited, Isaac Balami, said that the money expended in aircraft maintenance overseas was over $1 billion, “which added to the capital flight from Nigeria.”
“With the current exchange rate, I think we are talking about almost 1.5 trillion naira, with a possibility to create a job of over 25,000 Nigerians or Africans. In my over 20 years in this industry, my early days from Aero Contractors Airline, being the president of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers for about eight years, working with about seven ministers to date, and almost all the airlines, private jet owners, regulators, I have come to the conclusion that nobody will leave his or her continent and come and build Africa for us. And that is the reason we struggle with each other,” Balami said.
“In other words, Nigerians must train their own personnel who can take up the task of conducting such maintenance checks because expatriates will not provide the dedication and commitment needed; so, Nigeria should train its own citizens.
“So, somebody comes in now, let’s say from Europe, with a basic license, EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) or from America, FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) license, as a pilot or as an engineer, because ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) recognised that state, the civil aviation accepts and gives an approval and authorisation.
“Today, at least from my class, the aviation college in Zaria (NCAT) is doing a great job, by the way, you will see clearly that the quality of training from the Aviation College Zaria or Ilorin Kwara or what Air Force is doing in Enugu, with due respect to other parts of the world, is top notch. And that is why Nigerian engineers and pilots do better outside Africa. Out of 20 Air Force from Zaria, over 60 per cent to 70 per cent of us are working with foreign airlines. But when you come back home, you struggle,” Balami said.
He said if the local maintenance facility must work, there was need for collaboration, noting that that if airlines collaborate they will maximise opportunities available to them, remarking that instead of each airline having poor load factor, airlines can put their passengers at off peak period.
In the same way, Balami, suggested that MRO facilities should also collaborate.
He said that if the MROs in Nigeria were collaborating they could share tools and equipment, adding that the MRO s will benefit more if they complement one another.
On his part, the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Ibom Air, George Uriesi, said there was need for Nigerian airlines to maintain their aircraft locally, stressing that it will save the country a lot of money in foreign exchange and also help in deepening technical skills.
“We need to start maintaining our aircraft inside Nigeria, at least partially. The current approach of aircraft maintenance is financially crippling and operationally inefficient. Relying entirely on foreign service providers, put airlines at the mercy of international pricing,” he said.
From all indications, in terms of manpower development and capabilities, Aero Contractors has shown obvious readiness in providing the major checks for Boeing B737 Classics, Boeing 737-700 and B737-800 NGs and other aircraft types, including Embraer, Bombardier and Airbus.
Also, by 2027, Air Peace must have completed its MRO facility located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and when it goes on stream, many Nigerian carriers will stop ferrying their aircraft overseas for maintenance.
