The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has intensified Nigeria’s military modernisation drive through a series of strategic reforms and international engagements.
In a statement on Tuesday, his media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, said the minister’s initiatives have strengthened the country’s defence posture and advanced collaborations with global security partners.
He said Matawalle represented Nigeria at the IDEF defence exhibition in Istanbul earlier in 2025, where he met international defence leaders to deepen cooperation aimed at boosting counter-terrorism operations.
The statement noted that the push for local manufacturing has remained central to the minister’s agenda. It highlighted the production of 20 light armoured vehicles by EPAIL Nigeria in May 2024 and the rollout of five Hulk Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles by Proforce Nigeria in December 2024.
According to Dan-Wudil, these additions have enhanced troop protection and strengthened Nigeria’s response to insurgent threats.
He added that the introduction of locally-made “mountain climber” military motorcycles has improved mobility for troops operating in remote and difficult terrain.
Dan-Wudil said the minister’s operational visit to Sokoto in September 2024 reaffirmed the government’s resolve to intensify action against terrorists and bandits. Security forces, acting on the minister’s directive, neutralised several top bandit leaders in the North-West shortly after the visit.
Matawalle is currently in Cairo attending EDEX 2025, a major defence exhibition featuring more than 450 companies and delegations from over 100 countries.
The event, held biennially, showcases global advances in land, sea, and air defence technologies and serves as a key platform for military and policy engagement.