The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced that Nigeria’s first indigenous helicopter is nearing completion and is set for its maiden test flight soon.
Speaking at a focus group engagement in Kaduna on Wednesday, Kareem Aduagba, project manager at the Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute (a subsidiary of NASENI), shared updates on the project’s progress.
“Very soon, we are going to do the first test. Everything is nearing completion, and soon, we will fly the first made-in-Nigeria helicopter,” Aduagba said.
He explained that the agency is leveraging scientific and engineering expertise to develop the helicopter alongside other aerial vehicles, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Some of the components were sourced from abroad in semi-knockdown (SKD) and complete knockdown (CKD) forms, with local engineers assembling and modifying them for domestic use.
The forum, organized by NASENI, gathered inventors, manufacturers, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss ways to drive Nigeria’s industrial and technological advancement.
Discussions focused on promoting local manufacturing, innovation, and policies that support the adoption of homegrown technology.
Abdulfatai Ambali, head of the manufacturing services department at the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute in Kano, highlighted NASENI’s commitment to commercializing innovations, enhancing collaboration, and increasing public awareness of its work.
“Many Nigerians are not aware of NASENI and its activities. With the current leadership, we are prioritizing awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact,” Ambali stated.
He emphasized that the agency is working on developing indigenous technology to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported products, with several innovative solutions already deployed across various sectors.
In his remarks, Saleh Kwaru, the facilitator of the programme, called on Nigerians to support local industries, stressing that national development depends on embracing and patronizing homegrown products.
“We must look inward and leverage our resources. Constantly relying on foreign products weakens our economy,” Kwaru said.