Nigeria, China Seal Defence Pact to Boost Local Arms Production

Nigeria, China Seal Defence Pact to Boost Local Arms Production

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has secured a strategic partnership with a leading Chinese defence manufacturer during a high-level meeting in China.

The meeting culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chinese firm and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), setting the stage for a comprehensive military-industrial collaboration aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s security architecture.

A statement signed by Jeff Amaka Promise, for Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence today in Abuja.

The agreement covers key areas such as technology transfer, local manufacturing of high-grade military equipment, and advanced technical training for Nigerian defence personnel.

 It also includes the maintenance and upgrade of existing military hardware and the servicing of battle tanks, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

“This is a defining moment in Nigeria’s quest for a self-reliant, technologically advanced, and globally competitive defence industry,” Matawalle stated.

He emphasized that the agreement reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a secure, modernized, and strategically autonomous national defence system.

As part of the deal, new ammunition production lines will be established for 7.62×51mm ball and blank cartridges, 9×19mm pistol rounds, and machine gun ammunition. Manufacturing workshops are also slated for construction in Kaduna and Kachia to produce brass casings, bullet jackets, and other essential components.

The initiative goes beyond Nigeria’s borders, with plans to provide military support services to neighbouring African nations, bolstering regional security and positioning Nigeria as a defence hub on the continent.

With this strategic alliance, Nigeria takes a significant leap toward reshaping its defence landscape and reducing dependence on foreign arms imports through sustainable, local solutions.