Air Peace Breaks Ground on Lagos MRO Hub, Partnering with Embraer for Technical Leap
Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, is set to transform the country’s aviation landscape by launching construction of a state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos on September 17, 2025. The announcement, made by CEO Dr. Allen Onyema following his return from Brazil with President Bola Tinubu’s delegation, marks a pivotal step in establishing Nigeria as a regional leader in aircraft maintenance and aviation technology.
The new facility—a project expected to take between 12 and 15 months to complete—will benefit from the expertise of Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer. Embraer will not only contribute technical know-how but will also play a crucial role in training Nigerian personnel, ensuring that local talent is equipped with the skills required for cutting-edge aircraft maintenance and support.
The decision to build an MRO center in Lagos is a response to longstanding challenges facing African airlines, many of whom have historically been forced to send their aircraft abroad for major maintenance checks, resulting in high costs, operational delays, and lost revenue. By investing in domestic MRO capacity, Air Peace is positioning itself—and Nigeria—as a strategic hub for aviation services in West and Central Africa.
This move aligns with a broader trend among African carriers to localize technical services and reduce dependency on overseas facilities. With the rapid growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector, driven by increased passenger demand and expanding fleets, the need for a world-class MRO center has never been more pressing. The Lagos facility will not only serve Air Peace’s own aircraft, including its growing Embraer fleet, but is also expected to attract business from other regional and international operators seeking reliable, cost-effective maintenance solutions on the continent.
Embraer’s involvement brings global best practices in safety, efficiency, and sustainability to the project. The partnership will facilitate technology transfer and skills development, supporting the growth of a highly skilled local workforce. This is especially significant given the increasing complexity of modern aircraft and the importance of adhering to rigorous international standards in maintenance and repair.
For Nigeria’s travel and tourism industry, the new MRO facility represents more than just an infrastructure upgrade—it signals a shift toward greater self-reliance, job creation, and sector-wide modernization. Local maintenance capabilities will help reduce aircraft downtime, lower operational costs, and improve schedule reliability, making Nigerian airlines more competitive in both domestic and international markets. These advantages will ripple through the wider economy, supporting growth in tourism, business travel, and cargo operations.
Industry observers also see the Lagos MRO project as a catalyst for new partnerships and investment in aviation education, engineering, and logistics. By fostering closer collaboration between airlines, manufacturers, and training institutions, Nigeria is laying the groundwork for a robust aviation ecosystem that can serve as a model for other African markets.
As Air Peace prepares to break ground on this milestone project, the message to Africa’s travel and aviation professionals is clear: strategic investment in technical infrastructure, backed by global partnerships, is essential for building resilient, world-class airlines. The Lagos MRO facility will stand as a testament to Nigeria’s ambitions and capabilities, offering new opportunities for growth, innovation, and regional leadership in the fast-evolving African aviation landscape.
