Air Peace Breaks Ground on West Africa’s Largest Aircraft Maintenance Hub

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, has officially begun construction of West Africa’s biggest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Murtala Muhammed International Airport – a transformative US$180M+ project set to slash capital flight, create 50,000+ jobs, and position Nigeria as Africa’s premier aviation maintenance hub.

Spanning 34,000 square meters, the state-of-the-art complex – developed in partnership with Embraer and backed by Bank of Industry and Fidelity Bank – will feature a 6,200 square meter hangar capable of servicing a Boeing 777 and five additional aircraft simultaneously – surpassing current MRO capacities in South Africa and Ethiopia.

“This is more than infrastructure – it’s economic sovereignty,” declared Air Peace founder and CEO Allen Onyema at the groundbreaking. “For the first time, Nigeria will retain billions in foreign exchange spent annually abroad on aircraft maintenance.

This facility will service not just Air Peace but airlines across Africa, Europe, and the Americas, attracting foreign investment within 24 months,” he added.

The project, fast-tracked under President Tinubu’s administration and championed by Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, marks a historic public-private milestone. Keyamo hailed it as a “national asset” that will service not just commercial fleets – but Nigeria’s presidential aircraft.

Key Highlights:

• First-of-its-kind in West Africa: Largest MRO on the continent by capacity.
• 50,000+ jobs: Direct and indirect employment, plus youth technical training.
• US$180 billion/year saved: Estimated annual FX outflow redirected locally.
• Global draw: Targeting airlines from Africa, Europe, and the Americas within 24 months.
• Strategic partnerships: Embraer (technical), BOI & Fidelity Bank (financing).

“This is Nigeria’s day,” Minister Keyamo declared. “Confidence is back in our aviation ecosystem.”

Air Peace’s move signals a new era for African aviation – proving local investment can deliver world-class infrastructure, reduce dependency, and drive continental leadership.