President Bola Tinubu has welcomed aircraft manufacturer Airbus’ proposal to establish maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria as part of efforts to position the country as a regional aerospace and aviation services hub.
The President also stressed Nigeria’s urgent need for modern helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft capable of supporting security operations, logistics, and national development priorities as part of ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
Tinubu spoke during a meeting with a delegation from Airbus led by the Head of Regional Business Growth Africa and the Middle East, Thierry Cloutet, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the President said his administration was determined to deepen collaboration with Airbus by leveraging the company’s expertise in military aircraft and aerospace development.
Tinubu specifically called for the accelerated delivery of three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria to support ongoing counter-terrorism 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 focused on Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 platform, broader defence aviation cooperation, and financing arrangements aimed at improving access to aircraft for domestic operators.
The talks explored aircraft leasing and financing models, including export credit arrangements, sale-and-lease-back structures, and long-term financing solutions designed to reduce constraints within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
As part of efforts to strengthen the partnership, Tinubu also discussed the possibility of establishing an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to unlock value across the aviation value chain and improve financing access for local airlines and operators.
Cloutet commended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s aviation sector, reaffirming Airbus’ interest in supporting the country’s long-term aerospace development goals.
He also proposed what he described as a “360-degree engagement” model with Nigeria, covering commercial aviation, military aircraft cooperation, human capital development, sustainability initiatives, operational hubs, and maintenance infrastructure.
The proposal forms part of broader efforts by the federal government to modernise Nigeria’s aviation sector, strengthen local capacity, and position the country as a key aviation hub in Africa.
Deji Elumoye
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