Ado Sanusi, chief executive officer of Aero Contractors, believes stronger ties between government and private sector players will unlock growth across Nigeria's aviation industry. He made the remarks during a visit to the airline by Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the president on policy coordination and head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit.
Bala Usman toured Aero Contractors' Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and came away impressed by what she saw. The visit gave her a closer look at how government might better support private investors pushing the aviation sector forward and boosting its contribution to national GDP.
Sanusi welcomed the engagement warmly. "It was an honour to welcome Hadiza Bala Usman to Aero Contractors," he said.
He walked her through the company's operations, with particular focus on the MRO centre. That facility, Sanusi explained, positions Aero Contractors as a crucial aviation asset serving operators across West and Central Africa.
What struck Sanusi most wasn't just Bala Usman's questions or her curiosity about the business. It was her genuine desire to find ways government could strengthen the aviation sector's growth trajectory.
"Though not an aviator by background, her command of policy, performance and institutional development was evident throughout — a reflection of the results-driven mandate she leads at the CRDCU," Sanusi noted. He added that her visit reinforced how vital it is when public servants engage directly with industry stakeholders, ask tough questions and hunt for practical solutions.
"When they do that, they help create the environment in which businesses thrive and contribute even more to national development," he said. Sanusi expressed confidence that with officials of Bala Usman's calibre — thoughtful, rigorous and committed to delivery — Nigeria's aviation future looks bright.
The visit also gave Aero Contractors a platform to showcase its capabilities and its push for industry growth through innovation, collaboration, engineering and excellence. The airline's MRO centre has spent decades supporting operators in Nigeria and across the region.
Bala Usman was particularly impressed by the equipment and staff she encountered at the maintenance facility. The centre brings together internationally recognised standards and a team of highly skilled professionals dedicated to excellent service.
"Every aircraft maintained in our MRO reflects our unwavering commitment to operational excellence and continued growth of African aviation," the airline said.
