President Tinubu Welcomes Airbus Proposal to Establish Aircraft Maintenance Hub in Nigeria
President Tinubu Welcomes Airbus Proposal to Establish Aircraft Maintenance Hub in Nigeria
President Tinubu Welcomes Airbus Proposal to Establish Aircraft Maintenance Hub in Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed a proposal by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria as part of efforts to position the country as a regional aviation and aerospace hub.
The President made this known 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 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.
During the meeting, President Tinubu stressed Nigeria’s urgent need for modern helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to strengthen security operations, logistics, and national development efforts.
He specifically called for the accelerated delivery of three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria, describing the fight against terrorism and insecurity as a top priority of his administration.
“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” the President said.
Discussions also focused on Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 aircraft platform, broader defence aviation cooperation, and financing options aimed at improving access to aircraft for domestic operators.
According to the Presidency, both sides explored possible aircraft leasing and financing arrangements, including export credit structures, sale-and-lease-back models, and long-term financing solutions to support Nigeria’s aviation sector.
President Tinubu further discussed the possibility of establishing an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to strengthen the country’s aviation value chain and improve financing access for local airlines.
The Airbus delegation reportedly expressed interest in supporting Nigeria’s long-term aerospace development goals through what it described as a “360-degree engagement” strategy.
The proposed collaboration is expected to cover commercial aviation, military aircraft cooperation, maintenance infrastructure, operational hubs, sustainability initiatives, satellite technology, Earth observation systems, and human capital development.
Thierry Cloutet commended the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and ongoing efforts to stabilise and modernise Nigeria’s aviation sector, reaffirming Airbus’ commitment to expanding its partnership with the country.
The meeting forms part of Nigeria’s broader engagement with global investors and industry leaders during the Africa CEO Forum aimed at attracting investments and strengthening critical sectors of the economy.
President Tinubu Welcomes Airbus Proposal to Establish Aircraft Maintenance Hub in Nigeria
