President Bola Tinubu urges faster Apache helicopter delivery as Nigeria deepens aviation and defence ties with Airbus

President Bola Tinubu has called for the urgent delivery of attack helicopters to strengthen Nigeria’s security operations, while also welcoming plans by Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in the country.

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Tinubu made the appeal 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 on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the president stressed that Nigeria urgently requires modern military aircraft to intensify counterterrorism operations and confront growing security threats across the country.

“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” Tinubu said.

President Tinubu specifically requested the accelerated delivery of three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria, describing the deployment as critical to ongoing military operations.

The president also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with Airbus in both aviation and defence sectors, including aircraft maintenance, financing arrangements and leasing models.

Tinubu said the government is determined to position Nigeria as a regional aviation hub through strategic collaboration with leading global aircraft manufacturers.

The meeting also produced fresh momentum for Nigeria’s aviation ambitions, with Airbus expressing readiness to expand its footprint in the country through investments in maintenance infrastructure and aerospace development initiatives.

Thierry Cloutet commended Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and said Airbus was prepared for what he described as a “360 degree engagement” covering both commercial and military aviation.

The proposed collaboration would include human capital development, sustainability projects, operational hubs, as well as satellite and Earth observation systems.

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The discussions form part of broader government efforts to modernise Nigeria’s aviation sector, improve aircraft access for local operators and strengthen national security capabilities through advanced defence partnerships.