Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has called on Airbus to establish a maintenance hub in the country, advocating for deeper collaboration beyond aircraft sales.
Tuggar made the request during a tour of Airbus’ operational facilities in Getafe and Madrid, Spain.
A statement by his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, highlighted the minister’s appeal for Airbus to leverage Nigeria’s status as a regional security hub for peacekeeping operations in Africa.
“The minister urged Airbus to move beyond aircraft sales and consider establishing a maintenance hub in Nigeria.
He emphasised the potential for Airbus to train and empower local youth, with long-term possibilities of aircraft assembly and even manufacturing in Nigeria,” the statement read.
During discussions with key Airbus executives, Tuggar reiterated the importance of investment in Nigeria’s aviation and defence sectors.
He stressed that partnerships should go beyond trade to include localised investments and workforce development, which would boost employment opportunities in the country.
Tuggar also shared details of his visit on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, noting his engagements with Airbus executives, including Juan Sell, Luis Hernanperez Fernandez, Candelas Segovia Rodriguez, and Cristina Garvia Aliste.
“I welcomed Airbus’ interest and emphasised the need for collaboration beyond trade, focusing on local investment, skills transfer, and job creation to strengthen Nigeria’s aerospace and defence industries.
Strategic partnerships will drive innovation, boost employment, and position Nigeria as a key player in the sector,” Tuggar stated.
