By Editor
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, today attended the groundbreaking ceremony of Xejet’s state-of-the-art Flight Support and Engineering Hub as the Special Guest of Honour.
In a press statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday by SA to the Minister on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, 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.
The ceremony featured the symbolic tradition of turning the sods with the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Najomo followed by the Honourable Minister- a gesture signifying the commencement of the project.
In his speech, Xejet CEO Emmanuel Iza highlighted the transformative potential of the facility:
“This facility, whose foundation we lay today, is not just going to be a center; 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.
“The establishment of this 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 partnered by Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank, reflecting strong confidence from the financial sector in Xejet’s vision and Nigeria’s aviation potential.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering a conducive business environment for private sector growth:
His words; “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 center and all, they’re 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. Just a couple of weeks ago, we’re here too, just to look at the environment and see the area we want to give to an aircraft manufacturing company, so, let me not let off the cat out of the bag fully, but let me only let the hand of the cat out of the bag, the hand and the leg of the cat, but not the full cat. Very soon, we’re going to return here, for the groundbreaking ceremony of an aircraft manufacturing company on this strip. 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’ll 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. We’re going to attract, even, other people from other West African sub-region, to come here, and use this facility. That’s the dream; and this is just the beggining.”
The groundbreaking ceremony underscored the collaborative efforts of public and private stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s aviation industry. This hub is expected to enhance operational efficiency, attract investment, and support the nation’s long-term economic growth.
