The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed plans by the Federal Government to establish an aircraft manufacturing firm in Nigeria.

The facility is a collaboration between XeJet and indigenous banks, aiming to transform Nigeria into a regional hub for aviation services.

Keyamo announced this during the launch of XeJet’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facility and flight support centre in Abuja.

He noted that the move aligned with the government’s vision to support local operators and boost the nation’s aviation industry.

Keyamo said: “Since we came to office, we’ve been focused on attracting MRO facilities to our aviation ecosystem, just as they exist in other parts of the world.

“We’ve searched far and wide for investors, but now we see that what we were looking for elsewhere is right here at home. This collaboration between an indigenous operator and local banks is a dream come true.

Emphasising the project’s significance, the minister noted the inclusion of additional facilities, such as a training centre, which he described as “a huge achievement.”

Keyamo added: “This development will not only serve Nigeria but will attract users from across the West African sub-region. That’s the dream—to make this facility a regional centre for excellence.” (Channels TV)