President Bola Tinubu has embraced a proposal from international aircraft manufacturer Airbus to set up aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities within Nigeria. This initiative aligns with the administration’s goal to transform the nation into a prominent regional center for aerospace and aviation services.
During the discussions, the President emphasized Nigeria’s critical requirement for modern fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to reinforce national security operations, logistics, and other key development goals as the country works to address ongoing security challenges.
According to a statement released on Saturday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the commitments were made during a meeting with an Airbus delegation on Thursday.
The delegation was led by Thierry Cloutet, Airbus’ Head of Regional Business Growth for Africa and the Middle East, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
President Tinubu expressed his administration’s determination to deepen Nigeria’s partnership with Airbus, aiming to tap into the company’s specialized knowledge in aerospace advancement and military aviation. He also urged the swift delivery of three Apache helicopters previously ordered by the federal government to bolster counterterrorism and security efforts.
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“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” the President said.
The conversation also touched upon broader defense cooperation, including the acquisition of the Airbus C-295 platform, alongside aircraft leasing and financing frameworks. Onanuga noted that these financing discussions explored sale-and-lease-back structures, export credit arrangements, and long-term financing models designed to help local airlines access aircraft more easily and relieve financial bottlenecks in the domestic aviation sector.
Furthermore, President Tinubu looked into the prospects of creating a dedicated aviation leasing company within Nigeria to unlock value across the sector and improve financing avenues for domestic operators.
In response, Cloutet praised President Tinubu’s economic policies and his initiatives aimed at stabilizing the country’s aviation industry. He reiterated Airbus’ dedication to supporting Nigeria’s long-term aerospace objectives.
Cloutet put forward a comprehensive “360-degree engagement” framework for the partnership. This model encompasses commercial aviation, military aircraft collaboration, human capital advancement, sustainability projects, operational hubs, and maintenance infrastructure. The proposed alliance would also extend to Earth observation and satellite technology.
