Nigeria on Thursday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing that will enhance Nigerian airlines’ ability to lease new aircraft and get maintenance and technical support. Boeing, which supplies 60 airlines with 500 airplanes throughout Africa, projects the continent will need 1,170 airplanes over the next two decades. The MOU signed in Seattle on Wednesday by Nigerian aviation minister Festus Keyamo and Boeing executives will see the manufacturer provide planning workshops, training, technical support and assessments to Nigerian airline operators. Under the terms of the MOU, Boeing Airports Engineering team will provide consultation to open or expand airport capabilities across Nigeria and offer advisory services on the development of local aircraft maintenance facilities.
“This partnership with Boeing represents a significant milestone in our efforts to modernise and enhance the capabilities of Nigerian airlines,” Keyamo said. Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales for Africa Anbessie Yitbarek said the agreement is an important step in establishing a sustainable civil aviation ecosystem in Nigeria. The signing ceremony took place in Seattle, with executives from major Nigerian airlines, NCAA and representatives from the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
The minister, Mr Festus Keyamo,SAN, and Boeing’s Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa, Mr Anbessie Yitbarek officially signed the MoU. The minister said that the MoU was significant in enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of Nigeria airlines for growth in the global aviation market. The MoU, he said, is meant to facilitate aircraft acquisition; enhanced technical support; training and development; maintenance and engineering support; on-site support; airport and MRO development; regulatory support among others. “The MoU will further enhance the ministry’s efforts to modernise and improve the capabilities of Nigerian airlines.
The benefits of this MoU will be far-reaching, not only in improving the operational efficiency of our airlines but also in ensuring the safety and reliability of air travel in Nigeria,” he said. On his part, Yitbarek said: “We are excited to work closely with Nigeria’s aviation stakeholders to deliver tailored solutions that will help Nigerian airlines thrive in the competitive global aviation landscape. “This MoU underscores our commitment to supporting the growth and development of aviation in Africa,” he had said. The MoU is expected to catalyse significant improvements in Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure and operational standards, further positioning the country as a key player in the global aviation industry.
