Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has signed a Working Together Agreement with Airbus at the aircraft manufacturer’s headquarters in Toulouse, France.
Keyamo led a high-level Nigerian delegation to the Airbus facility at the invitation of the aircraft manufacturing company. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The minister said the partnership would support Nigeria’s plan to strengthen its aviation sector, expand fleet capacity, improve technical infrastructure and deepen professional training across the industry.
A major highlight of the agreement is fleet expansion, with Nigeria expected to build on the successful integration of the Airbus A220 into the country’s aviation market, particularly through Ibom Air.
Ibom Air, owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, has been one of the Nigerian carriers associated with the Airbus A220, a development now being referenced as part of a broader national aviation growth strategy.
Under the agreement, Airbus is also expected to provide technical and advisory support in key areas, including Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities, flight operations and aviation market insights.
The partnership also places emphasis on human capital development, with plans for specialised training programmes for Nigerian pilots, engineers and cabin crew. The initiative is expected to create high-value opportunities for young Nigerian professionals in the aviation sector.
Keyamo said the agreement aligns with Airbus’ Global Market Forecast, which projects demand for 1,490 new aircraft in Africa over the next two decades. Nigeria is seeking to position itself to take a strong share of that projected growth by leveraging its population, market size and strategic geographic location.
The visit ended with a commitment to further technical engagements, including planned inspections of Airbus’ Defence & Space and Helicopter divisions.
The Nigerian delegation included members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and other key aviation stakeholders, who attended the visit at their own expense.
The agreement is expected to support Nigeria’s ambition to become a stronger regional and continental aviation hub, while giving further visibility to Ibom Air’s Airbus A220 experience as a model for modern fleet renewal in the country.
