President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed a proposal by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria, as the government intensifies efforts to position the country as a regional aerospace and aviation services hub.
The Nigerian leader also called for the accelerated delivery of attack helicopters already ordered by the country, stressing the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism and national security operations.
Tinubu spoke 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.
Nigeria Pushes Aerospace Expansion and Security Modernisation
During the talks, President Tinubu said his administration was committed to deepening cooperation with Airbus, particularly in military aviation, aerospace infrastructure, and aircraft financing solutions.
“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” Tinubu said, while urging the faster delivery of three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria.
The discussions also covered Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft platform and broader defence aviation collaboration.
Both parties explored financing models aimed at improving access to aircraft for Nigerian operators, including export credit arrangements, long-term aircraft financing, leasing structures, and sale-and-lease-back options designed to ease financing constraints in the aviation sector.
Airbus Proposes “360-Degree Engagement” with Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also discussed the possibility of establishing an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to unlock investment opportunities across the aviation value chain and improve financing access for domestic airlines.
Thierry Cloutet said Airbus was interested in supporting Nigeria’s long-term aerospace ambitions and praised the government’s ongoing economic reforms and efforts to stabilise the aviation industry.
According to Cloutet, Airbus is proposing a “360-degree engagement” model with Nigeria that would extend beyond aircraft sales to include commercial aviation partnerships, military aircraft cooperation, maintenance infrastructure, operational hubs, sustainability initiatives, and workforce development.
The proposed partnership would also include collaboration in satellite technology and Earth observation systems, areas seen as increasingly important for security, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure planning.
Nigeria Targets Regional Aviation Hub Status
Industry analysts say the proposed Airbus maintenance and hangar facilities could significantly reduce aircraft servicing costs for Nigerian airlines, limit capital flight linked to overseas maintenance operations, and strengthen Nigeria’s ambition to become a major aviation hub in West and Central Africa.
The initiative also aligns with the Tinubu administration’s broader infrastructure modernisation and security agenda, particularly efforts to improve air mobility, defence capabilities, and private sector investment in strategic industries.