By Daily Review Online
President Bola Tinubu has welcomed a proposal by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus to establish maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria, describing the initiative as a major step towards positioning 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 to strengthen security operations and support national development goals.
Tinubu spoke on Thursday 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 in Kigali.
According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the President said his administration was determined to deepen cooperation with Airbus, particularly in military aviation and aerospace development.
Tinubu urged the company to accelerate the delivery of three Apache attack helicopters already ordered by Nigeria, noting that the aircraft were critical to ongoing counterterrorism and security operations across the country.
“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” the President said.
Discussions during the meeting also covered Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft, broader defence aviation cooperation, and possible aircraft leasing and financing arrangements aimed at easing access to aircraft for domestic airlines.
The talks explored export credit arrangements, sale-and-lease-back structures, and long-term financing options designed to reduce constraints in the aviation sector.
Tinubu further proposed the establishment of an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to unlock opportunities within the aviation value chain and improve financing access for local operators.
Cloutet commended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and efforts to stabilise the aviation sector, reaffirming Airbus’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s long-term aerospace ambitions.
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 proposed partnership would also include collaboration in satellite technology and Earth observation systems.