Aircraft: Why Nigeria must own MRO facilities – Prof. Kila
A Professor of Structural Development, Anthony Kila, has identified Aircraft Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) as a necessary investment to improve the efficiency of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
Kila, who is the Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), told newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.
According to Kila, the significant rise in air travel will invariably, translate to an increased need for new aircraft and the number of aircraft needing maintenance and repairs.
Specifically, he expressed concerns, as to why the private sector had not seized the opportunities embedded in the MRO section of the industry.
“There was a recent case of an airline, suspending operations, and sending home their staff because some of their aircraft are going for maintenance outside Nigeria.
“Well, I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the way we deal with MROs, aviation maintenance and equipment in Nigeria.
“I think there is something wrong because everybody knows that maintenance, repair, and overhaul is a crucial thing for an aircraft.
“It baffles me why somebody, either privately or the state, has not seen it as a necessary investment to have MRO facilities in Nigeria that can service Nigerian aircraft,” said Kila.
According to him, it is a worthwhile investment, not considering the cost of setting up the facility, adding that the market is in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
“At the moment, we are seeing MRO as a problem. We need to start seeing it as a solution to the creation of jobs, wealth and efficiency in the aviation industry.
“Well, if the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development is thinking in that line, I mean, if we can do that, that will be fantastic.
“However, for me, instead of the government doing it, my advice would be for the government to create an environment where the private sector will be able to do it.
“Where people will get together, invest and get it done. But mind you, whichever way, the important thing is to have it.
“I think the government should facilitate making it happen, you know, but if we cannot get private entities to do it, well the government can go ahead and do it,” he said.
He commended the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, for acknowledging the problem but hoped that a solution be provided in due course.
Recall that statistics by Mordor Intelligence showed that Nigeria’s aircraft MRO market size is expected to reach $330.16 million in 2024 at a CAGR of 2.66 percent and to reach $386.97 million by 2029.
Speaking on other challenges facing the industry, Kila noted that the approach to suspending airlines or their operations should be fine-tuned.
“Considering the current situation of the country, we need to be thinking more of allowing airlines to fly, operations to run, you know, to make things happen.
“Rather than grounding the airlines’ operations if there is a problem, we need to try to solve it while we keep operations going.
“Already, we do not have enough airlines; we do not have enough flights; if you reduce airlines and flights, guess what happens, airfares will go up. Passengers will be stranded and then people may lose jobs.
“Our focus should be on creating jobs and wealth and then making flights to be available. So, we need our regulators to be more constructive,” Kila explained.
He also highlighted the cost of operations as one of the challenges affecting fares.
Kila, therefore, called for conversations by industry stakeholders about the cost of flying in Nigeria and the availability of aeroplanes to fly.
