Nigeria has entered into a new aviation cooperation agreement with global aircraft manufacturer Airbus, aimed at strengthening fleet expansion, infrastructure development, and human capital training within the country’s aviation sector. The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 5, via the X handle of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,……
Nigeria has entered into a new aviation cooperation agreement with global aircraft manufacturer Airbus, aimed at strengthening fleet expansion, infrastructure development, and human capital training within the country’s aviation sector.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 5, via the X handle of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, following a high-level delegation visit to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France.
Keyamo said he led the Nigerian delegation to formalise a “Working Together Agreement” with the aerospace giant on behalf of the federal government, describing the engagement as a strategic step toward repositioning the country’s aviation industry..
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According to him, the agreement is anchored on several priority areas, including fleet expansion, technical support, workforce development, and long-term market positioning.
Under the fleet expansion plan, Nigeria intends to build on the deployment of the Airbus A220 aircraft already in operation with Ibom Air, with the broader goal of positioning the country as a hub for regional and continental air travel.
The minister also disclosed that Airbus will provide advisory and technical support for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, alongside consultancy on flight operations and aviation market intelligence.
On capacity building, the agreement is expected to create structured training opportunities for Nigerian professionals across key aviation roles.
“Creating high-value jobs for the next generation of Nigerian talents through specialized training programs for pilots, engineers, and cabin crew,” he noted.
Keyamo further stated that the partnership aligns with Airbus’ Global Market Forecast, which projects demand for 1,490 new aircraft across Africa over the next two decades. He said Nigeria aims to position itself strategically to benefit from that growth, leveraging its geographic advantage as a regional aviation gateway.
The delegation also included members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and other industry stakeholders, who, according to the minister, attended the engagement at their own expense.
