Tinubu Demands Fast Delivery of Attack Helicopters From Airbus

ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has welcomed an Airbus investment commitment in Nigeria and simultaneously demanded fast delivery of military attack helicopters. The president made the remarks at a meeting with Airbus executives at the State House on Sunday.

Tinubu said Nigeria urgently needs the helicopters to boost its counterterrorism capacity. He said the joint Nigeria-US strike that killed ISIS commander al-Minuki on Friday proves that Nigeria is serious about defeating terrorism. He wants the military to have better equipment to continue that fight.

“We welcome Airbus’s investment in Nigeria. However, we also need fast delivery on our defence commitments. Our military is fighting on multiple fronts and needs every advantage,” Tinubu said at the meeting.

Airbus’s representatives said the company is committed to meeting Nigeria’s defence and civilian aviation needs. They said the attack helicopter contract, which has been in negotiation for over a year, is close to finalisation.

Nigeria’s Air Power Gap

Nigeria’s military has long struggled with aging aircraft and limited helicopter capacity. The Nigerian Air Force operates a mix of aircraft from different manufacturers and eras. Maintenance challenges have reduced the effective fleet size available for combat operations.

In addition, the northeast insurgency has exposed the need for more attack helicopters. Air support is critical for operations in the Lake Chad basin, where terrain makes ground movement slow and dangerous. More attack helicopters would give the military greater flexibility and speed.

Furthermore, the northwest banditry crisis has also increased demand for air assets. Airstrikes on bandit camps in Zamfara and Katsina have been among the most effective tools the military has used to suppress armed groups in that region.

Airbus’s Civilian Plans

Beyond defence, Airbus is also exploring civilian aviation opportunities in Nigeria. The company is in discussions about expanding maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for commercial airlines operating in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s aviation sector is one of Africa’s largest. However, it has struggled with high costs, limited infrastructure, and frequent airline failures. Airbus sees long-term growth potential if the sector can stabilise.

The meeting between Tinubu and Airbus signals growing European defence and commercial interest in Nigeria. Analysts say the post-al-Minuki security environment has raised Nigeria’s profile as a serious partner for Western governments and defence contractors.