Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has performed the foundation laying of Xejet’s state-of-the-art Flight Support and Engineering Hub at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The event was also attended by the acting 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.
Xejet CEO, Emmanuel Iza, said “This facility, whose foundation we lay today, is not just going to be a centre; it is a symbol of our commitment to innovation and expansion. 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”.
He maintained that the establishment of the facility “is a testament to our belief in Nigeria’s role as a leader in the continent’s aviation future. By investing in infrastructure and capabilities, we aim to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a hub of connectivity, commerce and tourism. The project, which will be constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is being partnered by Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank, reflecting strong confidence from the financial sector in Xejet’s vision and Nigeria’s aviation potential”.
Iza further explained that the project would have a lifespan of 18 months, adding that the initial phase of the ground preparation and the taxiway will take over 12 months.
Speaking on the cost implications, he said: “Well, it’s a very huge cost. The first phase in two phases. The first phase is to prepare the ground. As you can see, the ground is not flat, so the construction company would start to sand fill it, bring it to the proper level and, you know, the density, because it’s going to be carrying aircraft. So, the initial project, 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.
“That is just the structure. It does not include facilities and equipping the facility. So, you mentioned that it’s going to be a private business.”
Keyamo emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering a conducive business environment for private sector growth, noting: “Our vision is to support the growth and development of local operators like this. Since we came to office, we have been shouting the issue of MROs, that we’d 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 centre and all, they are here.
“This is a huge achievement; the concept alone, getting the backing and bringing it to fruition like this, to start off work, with one of the best construction companies we have, is a dream come true. Let me say that we have also attracted similar projects to the part of the airport you’re seeing.”
