President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the proposal by Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria as part of efforts to position the country as a regional hub for aerospace and aviation services.
The President also stressed Nigeria’s urgent need for modern helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to support security operations, logistics and national development priorities, as his administration intensifies efforts to tackle insecurity across parts of the country.
Tinubu made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from Airbus led by Thierry Cloutet, Head of Regional Business Growth for Africa and the Middle East, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali.
The President said his administration was committed to deepening Nigeria’s relationship with the aircraft manufacturer by leveraging the company’s expertise in military aircraft and aerospace development.
He also called for the accelerated delivery of the three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria to strengthen ongoing counterterrorism and security operations nationwide.
“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” Tinubu said.
Discussions at the meeting also covered Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 platform, broader defence aviation cooperation, and aircraft leasing and financing models aimed at improving airlines’ access to aircraft and reducing financing constraints in the aviation sector.
The proposed financing arrangements include export credit facilities, sale-and-lease-back structures and long-term aircraft financing solutions for domestic operators.
As part of efforts to strengthen aviation sector development, the President also discussed the possibility of establishing an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to unlock opportunities along the country’s aviation value chain and improve financing access for local airlines.
Cloutet commended Tinubu’s economic reforms and efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s aviation industry, while reaffirming Airbus’ commitment to supporting the country’s long-term aerospace development goals.
In support of the administration’s aviation modernisation drive, Cloutet proposed what he described as a “360-degree engagement” model with Nigeria.
According to him, the partnership framework would cover commercial aviation, military aircraft cooperation, human capital development, sustainability initiatives, operational hubs and maintenance infrastructure.
The proposed collaboration will also extend to satellite technology and Earth observation systems.
