The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has inspected preparations for the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX 2026) ahead of its official opening in Lagos on Monday.
Matawalle inspected the venue at Eko Atlantic on Sunday, October 25, as organisers made final preparations for the four-day exhibition scheduled to run from October 26 to 29.
According to a statement signed by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, the minister commended the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Brigadier General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, and his team for their efforts in preparing for the event.
The exhibition, hosted by DICON, is expected to bring together military leaders, government officials, defence manufacturers, technology developers and investors from Africa and beyond.
It will showcase defence technologies and indigenous innovations across land, maritime, air and cyber operations.
The event is also expected to provide a platform for discussions on emerging security threats, technology transfer, investment opportunities and partnerships aimed at strengthening Africa’s defence industrial capacity.
Organisers said the exhibition would facilitate collaboration between defence companies and procurement officials while promoting the development of local manufacturing capabilities.
AFRIDEX 2026 is designed to encourage the exchange of technical knowledge and showcase military equipment, systems and technologies that could support defence and security operations across the continent.
The exhibition comes amid continuing efforts by African countries to strengthen their defence industries and reduce dependence on imported military equipment.