By Emmanuel Nduka
During an official tour in Madrid, Spain, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar visited the Airbus Operations Facility in Getafe.
The Getafe facility, the largest industrial site in Spain, plays a key role in Airbus’ global operations.
During the visit, the minister held discussions with key Airbus executives, including Juan Sell, Head of Public Affairs, Spain, Luis Hernanperez Fernandez, VP, Head of Sales, Africa, Candelas Segovia Rodriguez, International Government Affairs Manager, Cristina Garvia Aliste, Representative for Corporate Analysis, Defence EU Matters, and Sales Support, Public Affairs, Spain
A statement on Wednesday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, noted that discussions centered on Airbus’ interest in investing in Nigeria’s aviation and defense sectors.
The statement added that the minister welcomed these discussions and emphasized the importance of collaboration beyond trade, advocating for localized investments and workforce development to boost employment in Nigeria.
Airbus representatives highlighted their aircraft offerings for Nigeria’s transport, humanitarian, and defense needs. Specifically, they promoted the C295, a multi-purpose aircraft adaptable for various missions.
The minister urged Airbus to move beyond aircraft sales and consider establishing a maintenance hub in Nigeria, citing the country’s status as a regional security hub for peacekeeping operations in Africa. He emphasized the potential for Airbus to train and empower local youth, with long-term possibilities of aircraft assembly and even manufacturing in Nigeria.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of Airbus’ maintenance facilities, providing insight into the company’s operational capabilities.
