The Chairman of Air Peace Ltd., Dr Allen Onyema, on Wednesday announced that the airline will commence construction of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos in September.
Onyema made the disclosure on arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, after a direct flight from Brazil operated by the airline.
He said the Lagos-based centre would cater for Embraer aircraft, with Embraer providing technical and maintenance support. Air Peace has ordered 17 Embraer jets, five of which have already joined its fleet.
“We will begin the foundation on Sept. 17 here in Lagos. Within 12 to 15 months, the maintenance hangar will be operational,” Onyema said.
He explained that the MRO facility would reduce dependence on overseas maintenance checks, position Nigeria as a regional hub, and attract airlines from across Africa.
Onyema commended President Bola Tinubu for removing obstacles to business growth, saying such support was vital for investment. He also emphasised the need for fair and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Speaking on the Nigeria-Brazil Economic Partnership and Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), Onyema said both nations stood to gain, adding that Air Peace planned to extend services to other South American destinations.
“On Sept. 1, I will meet the Colombian vice president. They want Air Peace services too, based on our performance in the Caribbean,” he revealed.
He noted that the new direct flights to Brazil had cut travel time from about 48 hours with multiple connections to less than 10 hours, while also recalling how Air Peace’s London route forced foreign airlines to slash fares.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, hailed the inaugural Brazil–Nigeria flight, describing it as a milestone for regional connectivity and economic growth.
He said the new route would link Nigeria to South America and the Caribbean, providing interline access across the continent. “Previously, travellers had to route through Addis Ababa, Angola, or South Africa. Now, Central and West Africa are connected to Nigeria via Air Peace,” Keyamo noted.
The event was attended by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Culture, Hannatu Musa; and Chairman of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
