Springfountain, one of Nigeria’s leading aviation infrastructure firms, and aircraft manufacturer, the Boeing Company of the United States, have signed a strategic agreement that will lead to a $20bn investment in the Nigerian aviation industry in the next few years.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the agreement was signed on Monday in Lagos by the Managing Director, Springfountain, Mrs. Tokunbor Fagbemi; and Head of Sales, West and Central Africa, the Boeing Company, Mr. Larry Tolliver.
Speaking at the ceremony, Fagbemi said the proposed investment would be carried out through the African Aircraft Leasing Company, OEM Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Centre, African Aircraft Spare Parts Company and Aggregated Services Solutions.
Fagbemi said it would cover aircraft leasing, maintenance, repair and overhaul, spares logistics and supply, as well as aggregated services solutions.
She noted that the absence of such facilities and services in Africa were some of the major challenges faced by Nigerian airlines and the aviation industry.
Fagbemi said, “We, as dynamic Nigerians and as patriotic citizens of this great nation, have made Nigeria our first port of call, subject to provision of all the necessary enabling environment, free of the risk of expropriation.
“We believe that through this venture, we would have added our quota to ensure that Nigeria does not lose out, as African aviation is gathering momentum and countries within Africa are repositioning, developing culture, business, economy etc., around aviation and increased intra-continental air connectivity.”
According to her, the facilities and services will require local skills in diverse fields ranging from piloting, aviation engineering, aviation economics and aviation law, thereby creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.
On his part, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, congratulated Springfountain for the strategic relationship with Boeing.
