African Aircraft Leasing Company (AALC) has disclosed plans to invest over $20 billion in the country to facilitate the lease of 200 aircraft for Nigerian operators in 20 years.
The company also says it will set up an aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul centre, spares logistics and supply, as well as aggregated services solutions.
The investment, according to Tokunbo Fagbemi, executive director, Springfountain Infrastructure Limited, is in partnership with the US-based aircraft manufacturer, Boeing Corporation.
Speaking yesterday at an agreement signing ceremony between Boeing and Springfountain Infrastructure in Lagos, Fagbemi said the aircraft leasing country first in Africa would create a robust window for Nigerian operators to access 200 Boeing aircraft in the next 20 years.
According to Fagbemi, the partnership between Boeing and Springfountain will assist to build capacity in blocking huge gaps in local skills in diverse fields ranging from piloting, aviation engineering, aviation economics and aviation law.
She said with estimated passenger traffic of 19 million, the figures could increase to over 44 million, which would require more new airplanes to meet travelling needs.
“If Nigeria is to have 44 million passenger departures per annum, it will require over 100 aircraft to meet this propensity to travel, Nigeria will need more aircraft.
“To boost its international, including intercontinental flight potential, the airlines have to improve in both the quality and quantity of the aircraft. In addition, the aircraft have to be brand new to be at par with competition within Africa at the least,” she said.
To enable the firm deliver on its proposed investment, she said government should create an enabling environment.
Indigenous operators, including Air Peace, have shown commitment to support the companies by way of buying into the project.
Allen Onyema, chairman, Air Peace, described the aircraft leading window as one of the best things to happen to Nigeria, given the hurdles operators face in this bid to get aircraft from foreign lessors.
He said the partnership between Boeing and Nigerian operators would stimulate the growth of aviation.
Speaking at the event, Hadi Sirika, minister of state, aviation, said Nigeria needed to rework its educational curriculum to provide enough professionals to man facilities and equipment in the sector.
According to Sirika, “Over the next 20 years, Boeing is forecasting that the world would manufacture over 39,600 airplanes valued at more than $5.9 trillion because the total number of aircraft in year 2015 will increase from 22,510 units to 45,240 aircraft by the year 2035.
“This will come from the manufacture of 39,620 new units of various types of aircraft worth $5.930 billion. It is predicted that Africa will require 1,150 units valued at $170 billion.”
IFEOMA OKEKE
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