Nigeria is on the brink of a historic milestone as its first indigenously manufactured helicopter nears its maiden test flight, with President Bola Tinubu expected to take the inaugural ride.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) announced the development during a stakeholder engagement session in Kaduna on Wednesday.
Mr. Kareem Aduagba, Project Manager at the Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute— a division of NASENI— provided the update, stating that the project is in its final stages.
“Very soon, we will conduct the first test flight. Everything is nearing completion, and Nigeria will witness its first locally made helicopter take to the skies,” Aduagba revealed.
He emphasized that the agency is blending global technology with local expertise to develop the aircraft.
“We are not reinventing the wheel. Some of our projects started from scratch, including the made-in-Nigeria helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, we have also integrated semi-knockdown (SKD) and complete knockdown (CKD) components acquired from developed countries, applying our engineering knowledge to enhance them,” he added.
Abdulfatai Ambali, head of the manufacturing services department at NASENI’s Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute in Kano, highlighted the agency’s crucial role in national development. He noted that under its current leadership, NASENI is prioritizing commercialization, collaboration, and increasing public awareness of its work.
“Many Nigerians are unaware of NASENI’s contributions, but we are actively changing that through outreach and community-driven initiatives,” Ambali said.
With a strong focus on reducing dependence on imported products, NASENI has introduced several innovative solutions across multiple sectors.
The event’s facilitator, Saleh Kwaru, urged Nigerians to embrace local industries, stressing that economic growth depends on supporting homegrown talent and manufacturing.
“We must look inward and maximize our resources. Overreliance on foreign products weakens our economy,” Kwaru stated.
As Nigeria advances in its technological capabilities, the upcoming test flight marks a significant step toward self-reliance in aviation and engineering.
