In a bid to advance Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has welcomed a high-level delegation from China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) to Abuja.
The delegation, led by Mr. Tian Bei, Deputy General Manager of NORINCO’s Africa-America Department, met with the minister on Saturday as part of ongoing military-industrial engagements initiated in 2024.
In a statement signed by its personal assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-wudil on Monday said the visit aims to strengthen Nigeria’s indigenous defence capabilities through strategic partnerships with globally recognised defence firms.
Matawalle reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to transforming the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) into a leading military production entity.
“Our doctrine is clear: Nigeria must attain self-reliance in defence production. We are open to serious partners who are ready to respect our sovereignty, transfer critical technology, and build genuine local capacity,” he stated.
The collaboration with NORINCO is expected to yield significant benefits, including comprehensive technology transfer, advanced training and capacity-building, and increased indigenous content in defence manufacturing.
These efforts align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises local defence capability, operational autonomy, and national security through industrial innovation.
Matawalle assured the delegation of Nigeria’s full backing, emphasising that the Ministry of Defence is prepared to support all credible initiatives aimed at transforming the country into a regional hub for military hardware production.