Binani Air partners firm for MRO facility, targets $218 million annual FX retention

Binani Global Air Services has engaged a global aviation firm for the development of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Abuja to retain about $218 million in foreign exchange annually within Nigeria.

The chairperson of Binani Air, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, in a statement on Sunday said the project was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector by boosting local maintenance capacity.

She said it aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on foreign maintenance centers where Nigerian airlines currently send aircrafts for major maintenance checks.

She revealed that, 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.

According to her, the project will reduce this dependency while retaining and attracting FX of about 218 million US dollars annually.

Blueprint.ng reports that the development comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over the cost of aircraft maintenance and the dependence of Nigerian airlines on foreign maintenance facilities.

She said major maintenance checks, particularly C checks and D checks, required specialised infrastructure, equipment, and highly skilled personnel.

She said in the absence of adequate local capacities, airlines were forced to seek such services outside the country, with the associated costs paid in foreign currency.

“The facility will also position Abuja as a potential maintenance hub for airlines within Nigeria and other parts of Africa, depending on its eventual capacity and certification.

“For Binani Air, the investment represents an expansion beyond its role as a domestic passenger carrier for the wider industry. However, its success will ultimately be measured by execution.

“Nigeria has had several conversations around expanding local aviation maintenance capacity over the years but the real game changer will be seeing a facility of this scale move from the drawing board to hangar floor, and importantly, keeping Nigerian aircraft at home for major maintenance,” she said.