Nigeria needs more aircraft maintenance facilities

NCAT Rector said Nigeria needs more aircraft maintenance facilities.  Image: Nigeria College of Aviation Technology

Abdulsalami said: "There are very few MROs in Africa. There are about two in Northern Africa, two in Eastern Africa and the one in Southern Africa. We have had to take aircraft to other parts of Africa and beyond the shores of Africa for maintenance at great cost.

"For an aircraft the size of Boeing 737, we cannot paint it in Nigeria; we have to take it abroad. Painting is very basic. Airlines spend lots of money in major checks like C-checks and, D-checks at great cost. This increases the cost of running an airline."

He added: "On the part of the Nigerian government, we have started the process. We appointed transaction advisers, outlined business case and the procurement. Hopefully, we should have MRO established in Nigeria.”