Matawalle Pushes for Self-Reliant Nigerian Defence Industry as Nigeria, Türkiye Deepen Cooperation
Minister says partnership must prioritise joint production, technology transfer, skills development and localisation
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a strong and self-reliant Nigerian defence industry capable of meeting the operational requirements of the Armed Forces while contributing to the country’s broader industrialisation and economic development agenda.
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 7th Nigeria–Türkiye Defence Industries Cooperation Meeting (DICM), where officials of both countries met to explore opportunities for deeper defence-industrial collaboration.
Matawalle said Nigeria’s ambition goes beyond strengthening the immediate operational capabilities of the Armed Forces. The broader objective, he explained, is to establish a sustainable domestic defence-industrial ecosystem capable of producing critical military equipment, technologies and services locally.
According to the Minister, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 provides an important legislative foundation for that ambition by creating a framework for increased local defence production, greater private-sector participation and strategic partnerships with international defence companies and institutions.
He stressed, however, that the success of the framework would ultimately be measured by its translation into tangible industrial capacity, technological capability and sustainable local production.
“Our central objective is to develop a defence industry that is increasingly capable of meeting the requirements of our Armed Forces, while contributing to national industrial and economic development,” Matawalle said.
“This ambition is supported by the DICON Act 2023, which provides an important framework for strengthening local production, encouraging private-sector participation and facilitating strategic partnerships. However, the real opportunity lies in translating this policy and legislative framework into actual industrial capability. That is why this Forum is particularly important.”
The Minister called on the Nigerian and Turkish delegations to use the meeting to move beyond broad commitments and identify practical, commercially sustainable areas of cooperation capable of delivering measurable outcomes.
He identified joint production, technology licensing, co-development, skills and knowledge transfer, and the localisation of defence manufacturing capabilities as priority areas that could form the basis of a new phase of Nigeria–Türkiye defence cooperation.
Matawalle said partnerships built around these areas would have benefits beyond defence preparedness, including the development of indigenous technological capabilities, human-capital development, job creation and the expansion of Nigeria’s industrial base.
The Minister also expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to deepen defence-industrial cooperation with Türkiye, noting that Nigeria was seeking partnerships that would build domestic capacity and deliver concrete and mutually beneficial results for both countries.
His remarks reflect the Federal Government’s broader drive to reduce dependence on imported defence equipment and progressively strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to produce, maintain and develop critical defence systems locally.
Speaking at the meeting, the leader of the Turkish Defence Industry delegation and Vice President of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), Gökhan Uçar, highlighted the longstanding defence relationship between Nigeria and Türkiye and expressed optimism that cooperation between the two countries would continue to expand.
Uçar identified defence-industrial cooperation as an important platform for strengthening the wider bilateral relationship, particularly through increased technological collaboration, investment and partnerships between defence companies in both countries.
He reaffirmed the Turkish Government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Nigeria, noting that a number of Turkish companies already operate in the country while other investors are exploring opportunities for new partnerships and investments.
Earlier, the Honourable Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher G. Musa, OFR (Rtd), welcomed the Turkish delegation and expressed appreciation for its readiness to deepen partnership with Nigeria.
Musa subsequently declared the 7th Nigeria–Türkiye Defence Industries Cooperation Meeting open, setting the stage for discussions aimed at translating the longstanding defence relationship between both countries into greater industrial collaboration and practical outcomes.
