Nigeria to partner Hungarian firm on aircraft assembly plant

The Federal Government is set to partner Magnus aircraft manufacturing firm in Hungary to establish an assembling plant and manufacture of light airplanes in Nigeria.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, stated this while on an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary.

He said the partnership would be to assemble airplanes locally, from start to finish, and before the end of the Buhari administration.

“If we venture with them, we may start with assembling plants and later manufacturing,” Sirika said.

According to the minister, the Magnus aircraft has an airplane that is good for military training, has an aerobatic manoeuvre and is made of fully composite materials high strength and very lightweight.

He explained that aerobatics is the practice of flying manoeuvres involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flights, adding that aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sports.

Sirika further expressed satisfaction with the features and more than willing to facilitate the production of the airplanes in Nigeria, saying one of the significant features of the Magnus aircraft is the use of normal car petrol.

The minister who was at the facility on the invitation of the company said the proposed partnership with the aircraft manufacturer would be subjected to further analysis to verify the market and government willingness to partner with a significant amount of money and logistics.

He said the local production of aircraft in the country would facilitate the growth of Nigeria as a regional aviation superpower as it would also come with maintenance and repair facilities to attract patronage from neighbouring countries.