Federal Government of Nigeria says the country will begin to manufacture aircraft before 2023.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said the government is ready to partner with the Magnus aircraft industry in Hungary to commence complete manufacturing of aircraft in Nigeria.
Sirika disclosed this while on an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary.
The Minister of Aviation said the partnership which will happen before the end of Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in 2023, said this will help assemble airplanes locally, from start to finish.
He said, “If we venture with them, we may start with assembling plants and later manufacturing.”
Sirika while noting that the Magnus aircraft has an aeroplane that is good for military training, added that it has an aerobatic manoeuvre and is made of fully composite materials high strength and very lightweight.
According to the minister, aerobatics is the practice of flying manoeuvres involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flights.
He added that aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment, and sport.
While expressing satisfaction with the features and being more than willing to facilitate the production of the aeroplanes in Nigeria, Sirika stated that one of the significant features of the Magnus aircraft is that it uses normal car petrol and outperforms any training aircraft of its kind.
The minister said the proposed partnership with the aircraft manufacturer will be subjected to further analysis to ascertain the market and government willingness to partner with a significant amount of money and logistics.
Sirika, therefore, emphasised that the local production of aircraft in the country will facilitate the growth of Nigeria as a regional aviation superpower.
He added that it will also come with maintenance and repair facilities that will attract patronage from neighbouring countries.
