Nigeria’s Foreign Minister has urged aerospace giant Airbus to establish maintenance hubs within the country, moving beyond simple aircraft sales. The call was made during an official visit to Airbus’s Getafe facility in Madrid, Spain, the company’s largest industrial site in the country. During the visit, the minister met with senior Airbus executives, including representatives from public affairs, sales, and defence. Discussions focused on potential investments in Nigeria’s aviation and defence sectors. The minister welcomed Airbus’s interest but stressed the need for deeper collaboration, advocating for localised investments and workforce development to create jobs in Nigeria. He highlighted Nigeria’s role as a regional security hub for peacekeeping operations in Africa, suggesting the country would be an ideal location for a maintenance centre.
Airbus showcased its C295 aircraft, a multi-purpose plane suited for transport, humanitarian aid, and defence missions. However, the minister pushed for a more significant commitment, proposing the establishment of training facilities for local youth, with the long-term goal of aircraft assembly and even manufacturing in Nigeria.”We are not just looking for sales,” the minister said, “but for partnerships that empower our people and build our industrial capacity.”
Airbus representatives acknowledged the minister’s proposals, and the visit concluded with a tour of the Getafe maintenance facilities.
The Nigerian government views such a partnership as crucial for developing its aviation sector and strengthening its regional security role.
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