BINANI AIR Partners Global Aviation Firm for Abuja Mega MRO, Projects $218m Annual FX Retention

BINANI Global Air Services has engaged a global aviation firm to develop a major Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Abuja, a project the airline says could help retain about $218 million in foreign exchange annually in Nigeria.

The proposed facility is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s local aircraft maintenance capacity and reduce the reliance of domestic airlines on foreign maintenance centres for major aircraft checks.

Chairperson of BINANI AIR, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, disclosed the development while speaking on the proposed project and its potential impact on the Nigerian aviation industry.

According to her, the initiative is aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen local capacity in the aviation sector and reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent by Nigerian airlines on heavy aircraft maintenance abroad.

“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,” she said.

“This project will reduce this dependency while retaining and attracting FX of about 218 million US dollars annually.”

Aircraft maintenance is one of the major operating costs for airlines, with heavy maintenance checks requiring specialised infrastructure, sophisticated equipment and highly trained technical personnel.

For years, Nigerian airlines have had to send aircraft overseas for some major maintenance inspections because of limited local capacity. Such arrangements involve substantial foreign exchange payments, as well as additional costs associated with ferrying aircraft to and from overseas maintenance facilities.

BINANI AIR says the proposed Abuja facility is intended to address part of that gap by providing heavy maintenance capabilities within Nigeria.

Beyond reducing foreign exchange outflows, the project could create opportunities for highly skilled employment and contribute to the development of a broader aviation maintenance ecosystem involving engineers, technicians, training institutions and specialised service providers.

If successfully developed, certified and operated at the proposed scale, the facility could also position Abuja as an important aircraft maintenance destination for airlines within Nigeria and potentially other parts of Africa.

The project would represent a significant expansion of BINANI AIR’s role beyond passenger operations and into aviation infrastructure and technical services.

However, the eventual impact of the investment will depend on its execution, including the development of the required infrastructure, acquisition of specialised equipment, recruitment and training of technical personnel, and securing the necessary regulatory approvals and certifications.

Nigeria has made several efforts over the years to expand its aircraft maintenance capabilities and reduce dependence on overseas MRO centres. The proposed BINANI AIR facility could add momentum to those efforts if it progresses from the planning stage to a fully operational and certified maintenance facility.

For the Nigerian aviation industry, the key test will ultimately be whether the project can deliver sufficient local heavy-maintenance capacity to keep more Nigerian-registered aircraft at home while also attracting maintenance business from elsewhere in Africa.