By Wole Oyebade
The Federal Government has expressed readiness to partner Magnus aircraft manufacturing firm in Hungary, to establish an assembling plant and manufacture light airplanes locally.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, expressed the interest when he paid an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary.
Sirika said the goal is to assemble aircraft locally, from start to finish, and before the end of the Buhari administration. He said: “If we venture with them, we may start with assembling plants and later manufacturing.”
He noted that the Magnus aircraft is an aeroplane that is good for military training, especially for its aerobatic manoeuvre, high strength and very lightweight.
Aerobatics is the practice of flying manoeuvres involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment, and sport.
Sirika further said he was very satisfied with the features and more than willing to facilitate the production of the aeroplanes in Nigeria, saying 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 who was at the facility on the invitation of the Company, said the proposed partnership with the aircraft manufacturer will be subjected to further analysis to verify the market and government willingness to partner with a significant amount of money and logistics.
He emphasized that the local production of aircraft in the country will facilitate the growth of Nigeria as a regional aviation super power as it will also come with maintenance and repair facilities that will attract patronage from neighbouring countries.
According to him, the present administration has created an attractive environment for international investors in Nigeria, especially in the aviation sector, with the ongoing implementation of the development roadmap that places emphasis on public private partnerships.
(GUARDIAN)