The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), with a mission to establish a dynamic Science and Engineering Infrastructure-base for achieving home-initiated and home-sustained industrialization, has expressed disappointment on the setback of Nigeria’s manpower training in China, which has affected local manufacture of First Made in Nigeria helicopter.
This was according to a statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna in Kaduna recently.
Haruna said border closure was a major impediment as Border closure by the Chinese government due to the COVID-19 outbreak prevented the training from holding.
Nigeria Airforce (NAF), in partnership with the National Agency for Science and Engineering (NASENI) had since finalised arrangements to produce the first made-in-Nigeria helicopter, which must be launched in the country before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in May 2023.
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The Airforce Institute of Technology (AFIT), which is the research and development (R&D) arm of the Nigeria Airforce and the NASENI, have been directed by the Presidency to ensure that the local helicopter production’s dream becomes a reality soon.
Both AFIT and NASENI have taken up the challenge of completing all works on the first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter initiated by NASENI and which President Buhari had directed should be launched before the end of his administration in 2023.
Inspection of the Helicopter assembly ground
The NASENI chief also inspected the Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Equipment Development Institute in Kaduna, a new institute of the National Agency For Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as the centre for NASENI assembly of the first made in Nigeria Helicopter.
The institute, which is located in AFIT Kaduna, has the mandate to research and develop spare parts, components and systems of Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Technologies.
The NASENI team led by the executive vice secretary visited AFIT authorities to finalize the site takeover and design.
The visit was to fast-track the project which will be commissioned by the president before the end of his administration.
Inspection of other NASENI projects
The NASENI chief also inspected the ongoing NASENI Automotive Supplier Industrial Park, approved by the federal government in three locations in the country, with 3 billion naira
According to him, on completion, it will unlock opportunities in the automotive sector as well as potential in the manufacturing industry with a view to creating employment and skilled Labour in Nigeria.
He also said it would be self-sustaining and a government revenue source which would put an end to the importation of vehicle spare parts.
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NASENI Mandate
The mandate of the Agency includes the development of relevant processes, capital goods and equipment necessary for job creation, national economic well-being and progress.
With deliberate interest in key areas of science and engineering development, the agency hopes to improve the country’s socio-economic value in order to engender competition.