Plans are underway by the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS to build a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, center in the West Africa Sub-region.
The Federal Government of Nigeria is hopeful that the center maybe built in Nigeria considering that Nigeria has the highest level of aviation activities within the economic region.
Capt. Musa Nuhu, Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, who disclosed this during a virtual interview with the Chairman, Africa Business Aviation Association, AfBAA, Mr. Nike Fadugba on commercial and business aviation said, the proposed MRO would significantly enhance capacity for maintenance of general aviation aircraft in Nigeria.
“ECOWAS is planning a regional MRO, we hope it will potentially be based in Nigeria”.
On the state of MROs in Nigeria, Capt. Nuhu said, “the situation could certainly be much better than currently is, I think currently about nine less than half of the 20 domestic MROs, most of them are medium to small MROs, out of this 9 only one MRO has the capability to conduct maintenance on the newer model and bigger corporate aircraft, so the situation can be much better”.
He however expressed the hope that the aviation roadmap which includes the establishment of an MRO that would be private sector managed and driven would enhance the capacity of MROs to deal with general aviation matters.
