The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has said Nigeria will start the production of airplanes before President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office in 2023.

Sirika stated this after he paid an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary.

According to a statement by the ministry’s spokesman, James Odaudu, the minister said, “If we venture with them, we may start with assembling plant and later manufacturing.”

Sirika said the Magnus aircraft is lightweight, good for military training, has an aerobatic manoeuvre and is made of high-strength composite materials.

The plane, he added, uses normal car petrol and outperforms any training aircraft of its kind. He expressed satisfaction with the features and readiness to facilitate the production in the country.