begin assembling aircraft locally before the end of the Buhari administration in 2023 “If we venture with them [Magnus Aircraft], we may start with assembling plants and later manufacturing,” he noted.
Sirika further noted that the aircrafts manufactured by the company, which use normal car petrol, is fitting for military training, particularly for aerobatic manoeuvre, high strength and very lightweight. He also added that his visit to the Pogany plant was a successful and that the federal government is more than willing to facilitate the local production of aircrafts in Nigeria.
Nevertheless, the Minister added that the proposed partnership with Magnus Aircraft will be subjected to a thorough analysis, in order to ensure the availability of the required funds and logistics and to verify the market for the product. Sirika, who visited the facility upon the invitation of the company, also underscored the significance of local production of aircrafts, which would uplift Nigeria as a regional aviation super power, as the country hopes to attract patronage from neighbouring countries in the maintenance and repairing of aircrafts.
He is of the view that given the ongoing implementation of the government’s development roadmap, which prioritises public private partnerships, the Buhari administration elevated the West African nation as an attractive destination for international investors in Nigeria, especially in the aviation sector.
