Nigeria Commits to Building Self-Reliant Defence Industrial Base, Deepens Defence Partnership with Türkiye
Linus Aleke in Abuja The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), said that Nigeria is firmly committed to building a strong, self-reliant and globally competitive defence industrial base. The
The Minister of Defence for Nigeria, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), has emphasized the nation's commitment to establishing a robust and self-sufficient defence industrial base. At the 7th Nigeria–Türkiye Defence Industry Business Forum in Abuja, he highlighted the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 as a key framework for advancing this goal. The legislation aims to foster private-sector involvement, technology transfer, and strategic investments.
General Musa stressed that the forum would serve as a platform to deepen defense cooperation between Nigeria and Türkiye. He outlined the ambition of transforming Nigeria into a competitive defence manufacturing hub in Africa, capable of generating employment, nurturing skilled professionals, and bolstering domestic supply chains. He emphasized the importance of transitioning from a buyer-seller relationship to a more balanced partnership centered on joint production, technology transfer, and research and development.
The Turkish Defence Delegation's Head, Mr. Gokman Ucar, expressed optimism about the forum fostering new opportunities for collaboration. He stressed the importance of reviewing the strategic defense partnership through the lens of industrialization, focusing on joint production, technology transfer, and localization. Mr. Ucar invited stakeholders to explore practical models for investment, local production, and long-term industrial cooperation.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, underscored the significance of the DICON Act 2023 in creating a conducive environment for local production and private-sector participation. He tasked critical stakeholders with exploring practical models for joint production, technology licensing, co-development, and localization.
Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, DG of the DICON, stated that the corporation is expanding its scope beyond traditional production to build a more integrated ecosystem driven by innovation, research, private-sector participation, technology transfer, and indigenous manufacturing. He emphasized that the collaboration with Türkiye offers opportunities beyond mere equipment procurement, aiming to build defense production resilience by developing indigenous technological and industrial capabilities.
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