Abuja: The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for a transformative shift from a buyer-seller relationship with Trkiye to a more integrated partnership involving joint production, technology transfer, and local manufacturing. This announcement was made as Nigeria endeavors to establish a self-reliant defence industrial base.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, emphasized this strategic shift during the opening of the seventh Nigeria-Trkiye Defence Industry Business Forum held in Abuja. Musa welcomed the Turkish delegates and highlighted the significance of this forum in reflecting the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations and their shared commitment to enhancing defence and security cooperation.
“Nigeria attaches great importance to its defence relationship with Trkiye. Our cooperation has evolved from military-to-military engagements to broader collaboration in equipment acquisition, training, technical assistance, and increasingly, technology transfer,” Musa stated. The minister further articulated the forum’s objective to transform bilateral cooperation into tangible industrial partnerships and sustainable investments.
Musa insisted on moving beyond a predominantly buyer-seller relationship towards a balanced partnership based on joint production, local manufacturing, research and development, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and skills development. He noted that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 provides the legal framework to advance this ambition and foster opportunities for private-sector involvement and strategic investment.
“Our ambition goes beyond meeting immediate defence needs. We seek to position Nigeria as a competitive defence manufacturing hub in Africa-one that creates jobs, develops skilled professionals, and strengthens domestic supply chains,” he added. He cited Trkiye’s evolution into a self-reliant defence power as an example, viewing the Turkish industry not merely as a source of equipment but as a strategic partner in Nigeria’s defence industrialization journey.
Musa urged participants to progress “from dialogue to delivery” and evaluate the forum’s success by the partnerships established, investments committed, and technologies transferred.
In addition to Musa’s remarks, Vice President of SSB Trkiye and Head of the Turkish Defence Delegation, Mr. Gokman Ucar, expressed optimism that the Business Forum could herald a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries. Discussions are set to focus on joint production, technology transfer, localization, and Nigeria’s regulatory and investment framework, followed by business-to-business meetings.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, emphasized the importance of translating policy into practical industrial capability, encouraged both nations to explore practical models for joint production, technology licensing, co-development, and localization.
Echoing these sentiments, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Ms. Aisha Rimi, represented by Head of Incentives Administration, Uchenna Okonkwo, highlighted the commission’s readiness to facilitate investments, strengthen investor-government linkages, and support technology-driven partnerships. Rimi noted that while the NIPC Act restricts arms production, it allows the commission to negotiate special incentives for strategic investments that support industrial development and technology transfer.
She called for robust coordination among the Ministry of Defence, DICON, the Armed Forces, NIPC, and Turkish partners to ensure investments lead to job creation, skill development, and position Nigeria as a competitive defence industrial hub in Africa.