The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has called for stronger international partnerships and investment in Nigeria’s defence industry to accelerate indigenous military hardware production.
Musa said that the partnerships and investment would strengthen security across Africa.
He spoke at the opening of the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 at Eko Atlantic, Lagos, on Monday.
The event was the maiden edition of AFRIDEX.
It had the theme “Advancing Defence Self-Reliance: Advancing Africa’s Sovereign Capability and Strategic Engagement.”
The minister said Nigeria was committed to collaborating with international defence manufacturers to develop local production capacity, modernise its armed forces and address evolving security challenges.
He expressed optimism that the exhibition, scheduled to run between Oct. 26 and Oct. 29, would lead to agreements between Nigeria and participating companies for the production of military hardware.
“With AFRIDEX, Nigeria is therefore on course.
“I want, at the end of this event, that agreements will be signed, and probably in the next one year, we will have Nigeria working with each company represented today in the production of military hardware for our countries,” he said.
The minister described the proposed partnerships as mutually beneficial, stressing that Nigeria had the population, landmass and strategic reach required to support such production.
He also noted that Africa had a significant demand for military equipment.
According to him, anybody who invests in Nigeria is investing wisely.
Musa noted that the security challenges confronting Nigeria and other countries were increasingly complex, requiring nations to strengthen cooperation, technological innovation and institutional capacity.
He said, “The threat we encounter is hybrid in nature and fast evolving across all domains of warfare.
“The challenge before us is to ensure that our defence policies and institutions remain responsive to these challenges and realities.”
He said countries must prepare to develop the capabilities required to respond decisively to emerging threats.
According to him, contemporary global realities have shown the importance of security and strategic partnerships in defense equipment manufacturing.
“My experience and my time in strategic military leadership and now defence policy administration has reinforced my conviction that collaboration and strategic partnerships are key in defence equipment manufacturing,” he said.
The minister said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was committed to modernising the Nigerian Armed Forces, including developing new military capabilities.
He, however, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to procuring defence equipment from international partners when necessary.
“We therefore welcome a win-win approach to investment in our defence industry with partnerships that create lasting value.
“Nigeria remains firmly committed to defence sector procurement from international partners as required,” Musa said.
He appreciated international and regional partners, defence equipment manufacturers and donors for their contributions to Nigeria’s security efforts.
Musa said cooperation among countries and defence industry stakeholders remained essential to promoting peace and security in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
In his remarks, Dr Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence and Chairman of the Board of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), described the exhibition as a historic milestone for Nigeria and an important step towards building a more secure Africa.
Matawalle said the exhibition provided an opportunity for African countries and international partners to exchange knowledge, showcase technological innovations and explore partnerships to strengthen defence capabilities.
He said Nigeria had talented engineers, scientists and defence professionals capable of developing indigenous solutions tailored to the continent’s security needs.
“By investing in our local defence industry, we are not only strengthening our nation’s capability but also contributing to the broader regional effort to enhance security across Africa,” he said.
The minister stressed that successful defence partnerships should go beyond equipment procurement to include the transfer of technical knowledge and the development of local expertise.
“A good and trusted partner leaves behind the engineers and the technical crew that will continue to keep the production lines active,” he said.
Matawalle said the Ministry of Defence and DICON valued partners committed to honouring agreements, particularly those relating to research, technology transfer, manufacturing, production and the procurement of military hardware.
He also urged all partners involved in defence manufacturing and procurement to comply with international best practices and the relevant provisions of the DICON Act 2023.
According to him, DICON plays a pivotal role in supervising and coordinating the manufacture and production of military hardware and other equipment in Nigeria, including activities undertaken with partners operating under memoranda of understanding with the corporation.
Matawalle said the government’s commitment to developing indigenous defence capacity was further demonstrated by the establishment and commissioning of an institution of technology in July.
He assured that the institution would provide technological training and skills to young people in Nigeria and across Africa, helping to develop the workforce required for industrialisation and defence manufacturing in the country and the sub-region.
Matawalle said African countries could address their shared security challenges more effectively by pooling their resources, expertise and technological capabilities.
He expressed confidence that sustained cooperation would help build a self-reliant African defence industry capable of supporting peace, security and development for future generations.
The four-day maiden AFRIDEX 2026 brings together defence stakeholders, international manufacturers and regional partners to explore opportunities for technological innovation, industrial development and cooperation in defence production.
