Tinubu Supports Airbus Hub Proposal to Boost Security

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with a delegation from Airbus, led by Mr. Thierri Cloutet, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.

During the meeting, President Tinubu urged for the acceleration of the delivery of three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria to support ongoing security counter-terror operations. He highlighted the critical need for modern helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to strengthen national security operations and logistics.

The discussion also included Nigeria's acquisition of the Airbus C-295 platform as part of a broader defense aviation cooperation, which involves leasing financial models and export credit arrangements. President Tinubu expressed the administration's commitment to addressing persistent security challenges and improving aviation capacity to enhance national security responses.

Mr. Cloutet commended the economic reform efforts of President Tinubu and reaffirmed Airbus's interest in supporting Nigeria's long-term aerospace development, proposing a comprehensive engagement model that includes commercial and military aircraft cooperation.