The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo has signed a nine-point memorandum of understanding with aircraft manufacturer, Boeing Company, to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The deal was signed in Seattle, United States on Thursday by Keyamo on behalf of the federal government while the vice president of commercial sales and marketing for Africa, Mr Anbessie Yitbarek, signed for the company.
As part of the strategic relationship, Boeing will provide facilitation of aircraft acquisition, enhanced technical support, training and development, maintenance and engineering support, on-site support, leadership development, safety and operational efficiency, regulatory support, and airport and MRO development.
Speaking during the signing event, Keyamo said: “This partnership with Boeing represents a significant milestone in our efforts to modernize and enhance 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.
“As Africa’s largest economy and with the continent’s largest population, Nigeria has a lot to offer in driving the growth of aviation in Africa.
“The support to be provided through this agreement will help our local operators grow and succeed, which is a priority of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“We are keen to work assiduously with Boeing in the coming months and years to make this a reality.”
In his remarks, Yitbarek expressed enthusiasm for the partnership saying: “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.”
“This agreement is an important step in establishing a sustainable civil aviation ecosystem in Nigeria as there is shared interest and value in driving innovation and progress.
“The importance of Nigeria for Boeing lies in its rich potential to foster economic growth, connect people, and shape the future of aviation in Africa and beyond.”
