Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager of Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited, Captain Ado Sanusi, has urged the Federal Government to increase investment in Nigeria's aviation sector. He made the call during the airline's 67th anniversary celebration in Lagos, themed "Going the Extra Mile." Sanusi emphasized that aviation is not just a mode of transport, but a catalyst for economic growth, citing its role in tourism, trade, jobs, and foreign investment.
Sanusi warned that inadequate investment in airport infrastructure, aviation services, and maintenance capacity could lead to Nigerian airports becoming "ghost airports." He cited the development of a new mega-airport and major maintenance hub in a neighboring country, which could attract Nigerian passengers, airlines, and aviation-related businesses. Sanusi stressed that Nigeria risks losing aviation-related jobs, investment, and business opportunities if it does not respond strategically and urgently to these developments.
Aero Contractors began operations in 1959 as a charter and crop-spraying operator and has since expanded into scheduled passenger operations, charter and rotary-wing services, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and pilot training. Sanusi described the airline as Nigeria's oldest carrier and attributed its survival through prolonged financial and operational challenges to the resilience of its workforce. He recalled difficult periods, including when its entire fleet was grounded and operations were suspended.
Sanusi highlighted Aero Contractors' maintenance capabilities, particularly the completion of a C-check on a Boeing 737 at its Lagos hangar in January 2018. This was Nigeria's first indigenous Boeing 737 C-check in 14 years and a landmark achievement for West and Central Africa. The airline's MRO facility now provides maintenance services to other airlines across West Africa.
Sanusi attributed the airline's turnaround to the intervention of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which took a majority stake in Aero Contractors in 2016. He commended AMCON and the airline's Receiver/Manager, Senator Adeniyi Ayodele Adegbonmire, for their roles in steering the company through its difficult years. The airline's financial position has improved significantly, with its operating margin moving from minus 134 percent in 2022 to a positive operating margin by 2025.
Sanusi urged the Federal Government to recognize and support Aero Contractors' continued development, describing it as a "national treasure." He asked, "Mr. President, I must respectfully ask: Where is Aviation in the Renewed Hope agenda?" Sanusi emphasized that aviation should receive more deliberate attention under the administration's economic agenda to strengthen the country's competitiveness.
Aero Contractors has survived previous challenges and Sanusi expressed confidence in its future, saying, "Aero Contractors has flown through storms before. God willing, we will keep flying." The airline's 67th anniversary celebration was marked with a call to action for the government to prioritize aviation investment and support the growth of the sector.
Key points
- Sanusi urges FG to increase investment in Nigeria's aviation sector
- Aero Contractors celebrates 67 years of operations
- Nigeria risks losing aviation-related jobs and investment without strategic response
