Nigerian aviation mogul Allen Onyema's Air Peace to build maintenance hub in Lagos

Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s largest airlines, led by Nigerian aviation mogul Allen Onyema, is planning a new Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Lagos. The facility is designed to cut the airline’s dependence on expensive overseas maintenance while boosting its capacity to serve more routes and passengers.

Air Peace invests in local maintenance

The new hub, set to begin construction on Sept. 17 and expected to be completed within 12 to 15 months, will handle Embraer aircraft maintenance locally. Currently, these aircraft are flown abroad for service, adding time and expense for the airline.

The facility is being developed in partnership with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, which will operate maintenance for its jets at the hub. “By God’s grace, we will lay that foundation here in Lagos,” Air Peace chairman Allen Onyema said, explaining the project’s significance.

Strategic link to Brazil route

The MRO comes as Air Peace prepares to launch direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil in the third quarter of 2025, following endorsements by President Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Onyema emphasized that the airline’s selection for the route reflects its operational capacity and readiness among local carriers.

“In Brazil, they signed several MoUs, but what really impressed me was their partnership approach, one that respects our sovereignty and is mutually beneficial,” Onyema said. “President Lula’s warmth showed a genuine eagerness to work with Nigeria.”

Economic impact and growth potential

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo highlighted the broader significance, noting that bilateral trade between Africa’s largest economy and South America’s biggest economy had fallen from $10 billion to $2 billion over the past decade.

The new MRO and flight connection are expected to reverse this trend and strengthen economic and cultural ties. For Air Peace, the hub represents a strategic investment to cut costs, attract maintenance business to Nigeria, and position the airline as a leading operator in West Africa.

Onyema’s broader strategy

Founded in 2013 by Allen Onyema, Air Peace operates a fleet of 32 aircraft, including Boeing 737s, 777s, and Embraer jets, with eight more on order, which will bring the total to 40. The airline has grown to become Nigeria’s and West Africa’s largest by fleet size and ranks sixth across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Air Peace serves 20 destinations, covering 19 cities in Nigeria and 11 cities across nine other countries, including the UK, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Benin, and Guinea.

Onyema is further expanding the airline through strategic partnerships and the Lagos MRO, a move designed to reduce reliance on foreign maintenance services and strengthen the local aviation industry.