LONDON, UK – Nigeria has called for strengthened defence collaboration with the United Kingdom, specifically to support the restructuring and revitalisation of its primary defence manufacturing institution. The appeal was made during a high-level meeting at the British Parliament’s House of Lords on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence, met with Lord Jonathan Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC). Mr. Aduda, a former Governor of OPEC, discussed opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation in defence, security, and industrial development.
Central to the discussions was the transformation of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) into a commercially viable entity capable of meeting domestic security needs and contributing to regional and international defence solutions. Ambassador Aduda emphasised the necessity of clearly separating DICON’s regulatory functions from its commercial and manufacturing responsibilities to attract private sector investment, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
“In its current form, DICON possesses significant potential, but it requires a more defined governance and operational structure to attract credible global partners,” Ambassador Aduda stated in a press release signed by Patience Ituke, Principal Superintendent of Press. “A restructured DICON… will provide the transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence needed to stimulate local innovation and foster international collaboration.”
Lord Marland welcomed the initiative, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s defence industry modernization. He highlighted the importance of partnerships that facilitate knowledge transfer, technology co-development, and capacity building, noting that CWEIC provides a platform for connecting UK defence firms with Nigeria’s strategic defence initiatives.
Discussions also covered potential investment in defence infrastructure, specialized training programmes, and joint production ventures. Both parties agreed to establish a follow-up framework, including potential roundtable discussions and business-to-business linkages, to create a pathway for long-term UK-Nigeria defence industrial cooperation.
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