The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has carried out an inspection of the ongoing production of helicopters and fighter jets being built for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) by Leonardo S.p.A. in Northern Italy.
The visit formed part of his official engagements in Italy, where he accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the AQABA Process meeting.
During the inspection, the Minister visited two key Leonardo facilities — the Helicopters Division in Vergiate and the Aircraft Division in Venegono — both central to the production of cutting-edge defence platforms for Nigeria.
Speaking after the tour, Badaru said the visit was crucial to ensuring accountability and adherence to contractual timelines in Nigeria’s defence procurement process.
> “We are here to ensure that Nigeria gets full value for every investment made in strengthening our Armed Forces,” the Minister said. “The quality and pace of work we have seen here are highly commendable, and I am satisfied with the professionalism of Leonardo’s engineers and management.”
At the Leonardo Helicopters Division, Badaru inspected the assembly line of the AW109 Trekker attack helicopters under construction for the NAF. Of the ten units being produced, three have been fully completed and are ready for delivery, while another three are expected to be concluded by the end of 2025. The remaining four are scheduled for early 2026 delivery.
At the Aircraft Division in Venegono, he was briefed on the progress of the M-346 Fighter Attack Jets. Six of the twenty-four aircraft ordered are currently at advanced stages of production, with three already undergoing flight tests. The remaining three are expected to commence testing shortly.
A Leonardo official explained that the entire batch of aircraft would be delivered in four tranches of six units each, complete with armaments, tools, spare parts, and comprehensive training and logistics support.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Tinubu administration to strengthening national defence capabilities, the Minister stated:
“Our goal is to build a modern, self-reliant defence architecture that meets Nigeria’s security needs and aligns with global standards. The Tinubu administration is resolute in its commitment to this vision through strategic acquisitions, enhanced training, and international partnerships.”
Badaru’s visit underscores Nigeria’s increasing focus on transparency, technology transfer, and the modernization of its Armed Forces.