President Bola Tinubu has welcomed a proposal by global aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria.

President Tinubu also presses for the accelerated delivery of attack helicopters ordered by the Federal Government for counterterrorism operations.

Tinubu made the call 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, Rwanda.

He said Nigeria urgently requires modern attack helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to strengthen military operations against terrorists and criminal groups threatening parts of the country.

According to him, Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists, that is my priority now.

He specifically urged Airbus to speed up the delivery of the three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria, stressing that his administration remains determined to deploy every available asset to combat insecurity nationwide.

The President also endorsed Airbus’ proposal to establish maintenance, repair and hangar facilities in Nigeria, describing it as a strategic move that could transform the country into a regional aviation and aerospace services hub.

According to Tinubu, his administration is committed to deepening cooperation with Airbus by leveraging the company’s expertise in military aircraft, aerospace development and aviation infrastructure.

Discussions at the meeting also focused on Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 aircraft platform, broader defence aviation collaboration, aircraft leasing arrangements and financing models aimed at easing the burden on domestic airline operators.

The President further explored the possibility of establishing an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to unlock opportunities within the aviation value chain and improve access to aircraft financing for local operators.

Cloutet commended Tinubu’s economic reforms and efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s aviation sector, reaffirming Airbus’ readiness to support the country’s long-term aerospace ambitions.

He proposed what he described as a “360-degree engagement” model with Nigeria, covering commercial aviation, military aircraft cooperation, operational hubs, maintenance infrastructure, sustainability initiatives and human capital development.

The proposed partnership will also extend to satellite technology and Earth observation collaboration, further expanding Nigeria’s footprint in the aerospace industry.