The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has inaugurated Xejet’s $10million state-of-the-art Flight Support and Engineering Hub at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The event which marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation sector, was also graced by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, among others.
Keyamo said the vision of the federal government is to support the growth and development of local operators like this.
He noted: “Since we came to office, we have been shouting the issue of MROs, that we would like to attract MROs into our aviation ecosystem, like they exist in other parts of the world.
“And so, we have gone to the far end of the earth, looking for investors, to come and invest in our MRO facilities, and, here we are, like they say, what you’re looking for in Sokoto, is inside your Sokoto.
“Now, we have an indigenous operator, collaborating with indigenous banks, supporting this dream; and he’s not just giving us an MRO, like he said, there are other facilities, including a training center and all, they are here.
“So, government may not have all the money to give to you, but government must create this kind of enabling environment, the right type of policy, to support this type of growth and development.
“Xejet, we will be here with you throughout, from the beginning to the end, our technical team will be here, the MD FAAN will put the engineering team together, to ensure that, they support you; and you comply with all regulations; the DG NCAA too will do the same, to ensure that what we have here, will be world class.”
The CEO of Xejet, Emmanuel Iza said the facility is not just going to be a center, but a symbol of the company’s commitment to innovation and expansion.
He said: “It represents our pledge to elevate aviation services in Nigeria to global standards.
“Through cutting-edge technology, superior engineering, and unparalleled flight support, Xejet seeks to not only improve operational efficiencies but deliver an exclusive experience that sets us apart in the industry.”
Iza maintained that the establishment of the facility was a testament to their belief in Nigeria’s role as a leader in the continent’s aviation future.
According to him, By investing in infrastructure and capabilities, we aim to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a hub of connectivity, commerce, and tourism.
Iza, further explained that the project would have a lifespan of 18 months, with the initial phase, which includes ground preparation and the taxiway taking over 12 months.
Speaking on the cost implications of the project, he said: “It’s a very huge cost. It’s in two phases. The first phase is to create the taxiway that is going to connect the runway to our facility and the apron. That’s roughly in an excess of $5 million. And we are expecting to put the structure of equal amount on top of it there.”