PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has welcomed a proposal by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus to establish aircraft maintenance and hangar facilities in Nigeria as part of efforts to position the country as a regional aerospace and aviation services hub.
The President also stressed Nigeria’s urgent need for modern helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to support security operations, logistics and other national development priorities amid ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity across parts of the country.
According to a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu spoke during a meeting with an Airbus delegation led by the company’s Head of Regional Business Growth for Africa and the Middle East, Thierry Cloutet, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, on Thursday.
Tinubu told the delegation that his administration was committed to strengthening Nigeria’s relationship with Airbus by leveraging the company’s expertise in military aircraft and aerospace development.
He also called for the speedy delivery of the three Apache helicopters already ordered by Nigeria to support ongoing security and counterterrorism operations.
“Nigeria needs attack helicopters urgently that can be used to confront and overwhelm terrorists. That is my priority now,” the President said.
The meeting also featured discussions on Nigeria’s acquisition of the Airbus C-295 platform, broader defence aviation cooperation, and aircraft leasing and financing arrangements.
According to Onanuga, the discussions covered export credit arrangements, sale-and-lease-back structures, and long-term aircraft financing models aimed at improving access to aircraft for domestic airlines and easing financing constraints in the aviation sector.
Tinubu also explored the possibility of establishing an aviation leasing company in Nigeria to unlock opportunities within the country’s aviation value chain and improve financing access for local operators.
In his remarks, Cloutet commended Tinubu’s economic reforms and efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s aviation sector, reaffirming Airbus’ interest in supporting the country’s long-term aerospace development goals.
He proposed what he described as a “360-degree engagement” model with Nigeria, covering commercial aviation, military aircraft cooperation, human capital development, sustainability initiatives, operational hubs and maintenance infrastructure.
The proposed partnership would also include collaboration in satellite and Earth observation technology.
=
Ex-Bauchi Guber Aspirant, Sadiya Farouq’s Husband, Air Marshal Sadique Retires From Politics
THE Bauchi State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections, Saddique Baba Abubakar, has announced his retirement from active politics.
In a short video message released in Hausa on Saturday, Abubakar, husband of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Sadiya Umar Farouq, described the decision as difficult and said it was taken on personal grounds, while also apologising to his supporters.
“Today, with a heavy heart, I have made the difficult decision to leave politics for personal reasons. This decision did not come easily, considering the love, support and affection shown to me by the people of Bauchi State and Nigerians since I joined politics in 2021,” he said.
Abubakar, a former Chief of Air Staff, entered politics in 2021 after retiring from the Nigerian Air Force.
He later emerged as a major opposition candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Bauchi State but lost to Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Despite stepping away from partisan politics, Abubakar said he would continue contributing to the development of Bauchi State, particularly in the areas of health and education, through his Marshal Care Foundation.
In recent weeks, posters linking him to a possible 2027 governorship bid under the Action Democratic Party (ADP) had surfaced across parts of Bauchi metropolis, fueling speculations about another political contest.
However, the former Air Force chief’s announcement appears to have put an end to those speculations.
Abubakar thanked his supporters and prayed for continued peace and progress in Bauchi State and across the country.
“I sincerely apologise to all my supporters and well-wishers over this difficult decision, and I wish everyone the very best,” he added.
He also prayed for stability and development in Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.