President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has backed a proposal by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s aviation sector and position it as a regional aerospace hub.
Tinubu gave the endorsement during a meeting with an Airbus delegation led by Thierry Cloutet, Head of Regional Business Growth for Africa and the Middle East, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali.
According to a State House statement issued on Friday, the President said the partnership would help transform Nigeria’s aviation industry and deepen aerospace development.
“Our administration is determined to scale up the cordial relationship between Nigeria and Airbus, especially in military aircraft and aerospace development,” Tinubu said.
He added that the establishment of maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria would support the country’s ambition to become a regional aviation hub while boosting technical capacity and reducing dependence on foreign maintenance centres.
The meeting also focused on Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 aircraft platform, defence aviation cooperation, and financing models aimed at improving access to aircraft for domestic operators.
Tinubu said his administration was also exploring the establishment of an aviation leasing company to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation value chain.
“We are looking at ways to unlock opportunities in the aviation sector and improve financing access for local operators,” the President said.
The President further stressed Nigeria’s urgent security needs, calling for the speedy delivery of the three Apache helicopters already ordered by the country.
“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” Tinubu said.
Speaking during the meeting, Cloutet commended Tinubu’s economic reforms and efforts to stabilise the aviation sector, reaffirming Airbus’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s long-term aerospace ambitions.
“We are proposing a 360-degree engagement model with Nigeria covering commercial aviation, military cooperation, maintenance infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and human capital development,” Cloutet said.
He added, “The partnership will also include collaboration on satellite and Earth observation.”