The Federal Government has sealed a partnership with European aircraft manufacturing giant Airbus, targeting critical areas such as infrastructure development, maintenance capacity, human capital growth among others.

The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, was made known to The PUNCH through a statement on Monday.

According to the MoU, the agreement was signed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a working visit to Airbus’ global headquarters in Toulouse, France.

Keyamo described the agreement as a major leap for the sector, saying the pact is expected to fast-track Nigeria’s ambition to build a sustainable and globally competitive aviation ecosystem.

He said, “We are deeply honored to engage in a long-term partnership with Airbus. This agreement aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerating the development of Nigeria’s aeronautical ecosystem in all its dimensions.”

The minister, who was accompanied by top aviation officials, including heads of regulatory and airspace management agencies, stressed that the collaboration goes beyond infrastructure to include knowledge transfer and technical capacity building.

Under the terms of the agreement, Airbus will provide wide-ranging support spanning aviation infrastructure development, training of pilots and engineers, and advisory services on Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul operations.

Also speaking, Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus for Africa and the Middle East, underscored Nigeria’s central role in Africa’s aviation future.

Semelas said, “Nigeria is at the heart of Africa’s aerospace opportunity, driven by its large population and growing economy. This agreement reflects our shared ambition to scale the civil aviation ecosystem in the country.

“By leveraging local talent and infrastructure, we are committed to fostering long-term growth and developing human capability to secure the continent’s aviation future.”

Beyond MRO and training, the partnership will explore Nigeria’s potential in Sustainable Aviation Fuel production, positioning the country within the global push for greener aviation.

Airbus, which already maintains a strong footprint in Africa with about 3,000 employees, said the agreement reinforces its commitment to deepening technical expertise and building local capacity across the continent.

Data from the company’s latest Global Market Forecast shows Africa is expected to require about 1,490 new passenger and cargo aircraft by 2044. In tandem, the continent will need over 20,000 pilots, 20,000 maintenance engineers, and 21,000 cabin crew to support the anticipated growth.