The continued absence of essential aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre or hangar for Nigeria's aviation sector remains a source of worry for stakeholders. 
The general acceptance had been that for Nigerian airlines to measure up with foreign counterparts, the federal government must play a major role as obtained in the United States of America and United Kingdom. 
Fifteen years ago, a well packaged multi-million naira Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) unit was initiated at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo. The world-class facility, the first of its kind in West Africa and Africa as a whole, was started by the Obong Victor Attah administration to provide services to airline operators and save huge foreign exchange spent on aircraft maintenance services overseas. 
However, the completion of the facility has been delayed partly due to the need to commit an operator to the facility, as stated by Governor Udom Emmanuel when he recently received a report on the assessment of the MRO project from the initiator, Obong Victor Attah.
Regrettably, the absence of a major MRO facility in the West and Central African region skyrockets the cost of maintenance for airlines in the region. 
Recent reports showed that Nigerian airlines, presidential fleet, Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Police spend an estimated $2.5 billion annually in conducting C-check and other levels of aircraft maintenance overseas. Most of the funds are expended on technical personnel, airframe maintenance, landing gear, engine overhaul and aircraft spares. 
According to stakeholders, as aeronautical engineers, airline operators and pilots, the amount would have been halved if Nigeria has major MRO facility, a leasing company, which could also supply spares and simulators for the training of pilots in the country. 
Inability to afford the high maintenance costs is responsible for the short lifespan of Nigerian carriers, which operate for average of 10 years. Also, the long time spent in taking aircrafts overseas for maintenance has forced airlines to incur losses, making it difficult for domestic airlines to survive. For instance, Arik Air and Aero Contractors started having problems after 10 years of commercial operations. Both spend up to 40 per cent of resources on fuel and 30 per cent of resources on maintenance, thus finding it very difficult to survive. 
Other major reasons Nigerian airlines go under is the delay in ferrying the aircraft overseas and the losses incurred when an aircraft is grounded, which amounts to $100,000.
Experts say airframe maintenance alone costs Nigeria $1 billion yearly at the average of $1 million per aircraft. For instance, Air Peace spends about $2.5 million on heavy checks per aircraft, and Dana Air spends about $1.2 million on C-check per aircraft. 
In this respect, there is that urgent need to have a major maintenance facility in Nigeria. The more reason the Federal Government must support the completion of the MRO facility at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo to make it operational and save Nigerian airlines and others the huge foreign exchange spent overseas on maintenance. 
If the Uyo MRO that is 70 per cent completed were available, airlines would only fly from Lagos to Uyo for maintenance. More so, if the facility is initially run by expatriates and foreigners, the expertise would be transferred to locals, save millions of foreign exchange annually and drastically reduce the maintenance costs. 
With needed support, the MRO in Uyo, apart from its initial concept, could be encouraged to start manufacturing airplanes parts as a step towards manufacturing for the long term as in Brazil. 
Granted that the Federal Government has its limitations and challenges, it would be suicidal to allow the MRO facility in Uyo to go down. It should partner the state, as initially agreed, to make the MRO functional and enhance aviation services in Nigeria and West Africa. 

Source: http://www.pioneernewsonline.com/news/saving-huge-foreign-exchange-with-uyo-mro-facility

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If the Uyo MRO that is 70 per cent completed were available, airlines would only fly from Lagos to Uyo for maintenance. 

With or without Federal government support 15 years is enough to get projects started. Getting private sector opperator for MRO shouldn't take 2 years if you have open bidding. We know this with Ibom Deep Seaport. The project would bring millions to the state since it would have been only one in country.

It should partner the state, as initially agreed, to make the MRO functional and enhance aviation services in Nigeria and West Africa.

It should be explained why the Federsl governments doesn't care to partner with state anymore. Right now the Buhari administration is planning to build its own MRO in lagos or Abuja. This doesnt expain why Obasanjo and Johnathan didnt follow through.