Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has led a high-level military delegation to Beijing to secure advanced technology transfers and boost Nigeria’s domestic weapons manufacturing capabilities.
The week-long working visit is aimed at modernizing the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and transforming the country from a consumer of foreign military hardware into an active producer.
Key to this strategy is the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the state-run arms manufacturer, which the government hopes to radically upgrade through strategic partnerships.
“Our focus is clear: we are committed to partnerships that do not just make Nigeria a consumer, but an active producer,” Gen Musa said during a visit to the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) Innovation Centre.
He emphasized that integrating emerging technologies and artificial intelligence into Nigeria’s national security architecture is vital to staying ahead of modern asymmetric threats.
Key partnerships under negotiation
The Nigerian delegation held critical talks with major Chinese state-owned defence giants to establish local assembly and production lines:
- NORINCO Group: The delegation toured the headquarters of the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), inspecting land platforms, advanced artillery systems, and specialized ammunition. Gen Musa held closed-door talks with senior executives to discuss concrete technology transfer and technical capacity building in direct partnership with DICON.
- CETC Innovation Centre: Discussions focused on securing electronic and digital technology to bolster surveillance and communication capabilities for Nigerian troops.
Diplomatic support
At the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, the delegation was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd).
Ambassador Dambazau commended the defence minister’s timely visit, noting its pivotal role in cementing the strategic geopolitical relationship between Nigeria and China. He pledged the embassy’s full diplomatic backing to advance Nigeria’s defence interests during the mission.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the bilateral engagements are structured to deliver both immediate and long-term dividends for Nigeria’s national security, including enhanced equipment modernization, sustainable logistics supply chains, and greater industrial self-reliance.
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