Federal Government has declared that it is unapologetic about its support for indigenous airlines’ growth and sustainability despite the myriad of challenges confronting the operators.

This is as Air Peace yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos performed a groundbreaking for its N32 billion Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, slated for completion within 16 months.

Speaking yesterday at the groundbreaking ceremony of the MRO, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, vowed that the government would continue to support the growth of the indigenous airlines and other local companies despite the kicks in some quarters.

Keyamo insisted that the government was not out to destroy indigenous businesses in the aviation ecosystem, stressing that the business of government was to address the challenges in the system through policy direction.

He lamented that the lack of support for indigenous operators led to the death of over 100 airlines in the past 60 years, maintaining that the primary aim of the government was to ensure the sustainability of indigenous companies.

The minister, however, assured that the government would not compromise safety in the system.

On the MRO facility, Keyamo emphasised that it would save the country foreign exchange and capital flight, while also assisting operators in West and Central African countries to conduct the maintenance of their equipment in the country.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, said that it would cost the airline about N32 billion to construct the MRO.

He lamented that the airline, in 2024, spent N180 billion in the maintenance of its aircraft abroad, but said all that would stop whenever the facility comes on stream.