President Tinubu met with Airbus delegation (led by Thierry Cloutet) during the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, to finalize discussions. The proposal isn’t just about building hangars; it’s a “360-degree engagement” designed to transform Nigeria into a continental aviation leader.
Establishing MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) and hangar facilities in Nigeria. This is intended to stop the flight of foreign exchange, as Nigerian airlines currently send their planes abroad for heavy maintenance.
Tinubu called for the accelerated delivery of three Apache attack helicopters already on order to bolster counter-terrorism efforts. Discussions are underway for Nigeria to acquire this tactical military transport aircraft, known for its versatility in maritime patrol and troop movement.
A major focus was creating an aviation leasing company in Nigeria. This would involve “sale-and-lease-back” structures to help domestic airlines acquire aircraft more affordably.
The partnership extends to satellite technology and Earth observation systems, which will assist with both national security surveillance and broader developmental planning.
President Tinubu disclosed that “Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now.”
This move follows a series of reforms aimed at stabilizing the Nigerian aviation sector, which has recently struggled with high operational costs and foreign exchange liquidity issues for international carriers.
