Keyamo Advocates for African Aircraft Maintenance Hubs

Festus Keyamo, the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, has called for the establishment of aircraft maintenance hubs across Africa to curb capital flight, which costs the continent billions annually. Speaking at the 2026 Ethiopian Aviation Forum in Addis Ababa, he praised Ethiopian Airlines as a model of excellence in African aviation, demonstrating competitiveness at a global level.

Keyamo highlighted the urgent need for Africa to develop its own maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, noting that Nigeria is already moving towards reforms aimed at building regional maintenance hubs and attracting private sector investment. He also discussed the significance of air cargo as a backbone of modern economies and urged African countries to harmonize customs processes to improve connectivity.

Keyamo stressed the importance of building local capacity and partnerships in training to ensure Africa plays a proactive role in shaping the aviation industry. He concluded with a call for practical steps toward sustainable aviation, including the adoption of cleaner fuels and modern aircraft fleets.