President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed Nigeria's readiness to partner with Airbus on the establishment of aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in the country. This initiative aims to strengthen the aviation sector and position Nigeria as a regional aerospace services hub.
Urgent Need for Attack Helicopters
The President also stressed the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of attack helicopters and other military aircraft to support ongoing counterterrorism and security operations across the country. Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with a delegation from Airbus 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, Rwanda.
He said his administration remains committed to expanding cooperation with global aerospace manufacturers, particularly in areas that strengthen both civil and defence aviation capabilities, improve logistics support, and enhance national security operations. According to him, Nigeria's security challenges require faster deployment of modern air assets capable of supporting military operations in difficult terrains, noting that procurement processes must be fast-tracked.
“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” the President was quoted as saying.
Broader Defence Cooperation and Financing Models
The discussions also covered Nigeria's acquisition of the Airbus C-295 aircraft, broader defence aviation cooperation, and financing models such as aircraft leasing, export credit arrangements, sale-and-lease-back structures, and long-term financing solutions to improve access for domestic operators. President Tinubu also explored the establishment of an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to deepen investment in the sector and ease financing constraints affecting local airlines.
Airbus representatives commended Nigeria's economic reforms and expressed interest in expanding collaboration across commercial aviation, military support services, training, sustainability initiatives, and infrastructure development. The company also proposed a “360-degree engagement” framework covering maintenance hubs, operational support, human capital development, satellite and Earth observation cooperation, and sustainability-focused aviation projects.
The delegation reaffirmed Airbus's long-term commitment to supporting Nigeria's aerospace development agenda. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, where Nigeria has continued to engage global partners on investment in key sectors including aviation, defence, and infrastructure.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), confirmed the details on May 16, 2026.
