The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), said Nigeria is firmly committed to building a strong, self-reliant, and globally competitive defence industrial base. NigerianStudent Resources
Speaking at the 7th Nigeria-Türkiye Defence Industry Business Forum in Abuja on Wednesday, Musa said Nigeria was advancing this ambition through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The minister said the ambition went beyond meeting Nigeria’s immediate defence requirements, stressing the need to develop an industrial ecosystem capable of positioning Nigeria as a competitive defence manufacturing hub in Africa.
“Our ambition goes beyond meeting Nigeria’s immediate defence requirements. We seek to develop an industrial ecosystem capable of positioning Nigeria as a competitive defence manufacturing hub in Africa—one that creates quality employment, develops highly skilled Nigerian professionals, strengthens domestic supply chains, promotes innovation and contributes to national security as well as broader economic development,” he said. NigerianStudent Resources
According to him, the vision was particularly important at a time when the global security environment was becoming increasingly complex and technologically driven.
“Contemporary conflicts are demonstrating the growing importance of unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, advanced communications, cyber capabilities, precision systems, surveillance technologies, space-based assets and other emerging technologies,” he said.
Musa said Nigeria must therefore build the capacity not only to acquire such capabilities but also to understand, adapt, manufacture, maintain and continuously improve them. NigerianStudent Resources
“This requires strong partnerships between government, the Armed Forces, research institutions, academia and industry, supported by sustained investment in innovation and human capital,” he said.
The minister said Nigeria attached great importance to its defence relationship with Türkiye, noting that the 7th Nigeria-Türkiye Defence Industry Business Forum provided an important platform to take the relationship to the next level.
He said Nigeria-Türkiye cooperation had evolved considerably from traditional military-to-military engagements to broader collaboration, but stressed the need to “progressively move beyond a predominantly buyer-seller relationship towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial partnership founded on joint production, local manufacturing, technology transfer, research and development, maintenance, repair and overhaul, skills development and sustainable industrial cooperation.”
Musa said Türkiye’s remarkable transformation into a major and increasingly self-reliant defence industrial power provided valuable lessons for countries seeking to develop indigenous defence capabilities.
According to him, Türkiye had demonstrated what could be achieved through sustained government commitment, deliberate investment in indigenous research and development, innovation, strong private-sector participation, effective institutional coordination and close collaboration between government, the Armed Forces, research institutions and industry.
“Nigeria therefore views the Turkish defence industry not merely as a source of equipment, but as a strategic partner in our defence industrialisation journey,” he said.
The minister said Nigeria was interested in learning from Türkiye’s experience and adapting relevant aspects of it to the country’s own circumstances, requirements and strategic interests. NigerianStudent Resources
“We believe that a stronger Nigeria-Türkiye defence industrial partnership can create opportunities not only for our two countries, but also for the wider African market. This Forum is therefore expected to give practical expression to our shared vision,” he said.
He said discussions on strategic defence partnerships, technology transfer, co-production, local content, investment opportunities, incentives, procurement processes and regulatory frameworks were particularly important.
The minister urged Nigerian and Turkish companies to use the opportunity to identify specific, commercially viable and technologically meaningful areas of cooperation. NigerianStudent Resources
“To our Turkish partners, our message is clear: Nigeria is open to strategic defence-industrial partnerships and responsible investment,” he said.