Nigeria, India Deepen Aviation Partnership On Training, Infrastructure
Nigeria and India are set to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the aviation and aerospace sector, with both countries exploring partnerships in infrastructure development, capacity building and knowledge transfer.
The development followed a meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, during a courtesy visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The proposed partnership is expected to provide Nigerian aviation professionals with greater access to specialised training, skills development and international exposure, while strengthening technical cooperation between both countries.
Speaking during the visit, Singh said India had identified significant opportunities for collaboration with Nigeria’s aviation industry, noting that the country’s airports were performing well.
The envoy said his visits to Nigeria had strengthened his belief that both countries had considerable benefits to gain from closer cooperation, identifying several areas where they could work together.
He also invited Keyamo to visit India, adding that India’s Minister of Civil Aviation was equally interested in visiting Nigeria to further discussions on aviation cooperation.
On capacity building, Singh said India was ready to expand its existing training programme in Nigeria, noting that more than 250 Nigerians currently benefit from the initiative annually.
He described Nigeria as a country held in high regard by India and expressed the Indian government’s willingness to receive the Nigerian aviation minister.
Responding, Keyamo welcomed the proposed partnership, saying India’s experience in aviation, particularly in human-capacity development, could provide valuable lessons for Nigeria as the Federal Government implements its Renewed Hope Agenda in the aviation and aerospace sector.
The minister said Nigeria was committed to deepening its relationship with India in ways that would strengthen the country’s aviation infrastructure and equip Nigerian professionals with the expertise required to compete effectively in the global industry.
Keyamo identified training, capacity building and knowledge transfer as key priorities of the proposed collaboration.
He said the partnership should focus on developing the skills of Nigerian engineers, pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation professionals who play critical roles in the growth and sustainability of the sector.
To move the initiative forward, Keyamo directed the establishment of a technical team to develop the framework, details and modalities for the proposed Nigeria-India aviation partnership.
