Nigeria and China Forge Strategic Defence Partnership to Boost Local Military Capabilities
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In a landmark effort to bolster Nigeria’s defence infrastructure and security apparatus, the country’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON, has engaged in a high-level meeting with a leading Chinese manufacturer of advanced anti-terrorism and high-tech defence equipment.
The meeting, held in China, marked a significant step towards formalizing a bilateral collaboration aimed at strengthening strategic defence ties between the two nations.
At the heart of the engagement was 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 partnership poised to transform Nigeria’s defence sector.
The agreement encompasses a multi-pronged approach designed to modernize the nation’s military capabilities through technology transfer, local production of military hardware, and capacity building initiatives that will enhance the skills and expertise of Nigerian defence personnel. 
Dr. Matawalle underscored the breadth of the collaboration, highlighting plans not only to introduce new technologies but also to maintain and upgrade Nigeria’s existing military hardware. This includes the servicing of battle tanks and the provision of military engineering services, further strengthening Nigeria’s operational readiness.
Beyond domestic improvements, the partnership is envisioned to extend its impact across the region by offering military support services to neighbouring African countries, thereby contributing to broader regional security and stability.
Central to the agreement is the development of local manufacturing capabilities. The MoU outlines plans for the construction of new production lines dedicated to the manufacturing of various types of ammunition, including 7.62×51mm ball and blank cartridges, 9×19mm pistol cartridges, and machine gun ammunition.
These production lines will be supported by new workshops and facilities in Kaduna and Kachia, Kaduna State, dedicated to the production of brass casings, bullet jackets, and other critical defence components, further deepening Nigeria’s capacity for self-reliance in military supply chains.
Dr. Matawalle emphasized that this initiative represents a major leap forward in the Federal Government’s defence modernization agenda, aligning closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a comprehensive renewal and strategic overhaul of Nigeria’s security and defence capabilities.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to establishing a self-sufficient, technologically advanced, and globally competitive military-industrial base that can meet the evolving security needs of the nation and the region.
The meeting and subsequent agreement signal a new chapter in Nigeria’s quest for enhanced national security, with far-reaching implications for the country’s defence readiness and its role as a stabilizing force in West Africa.
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