By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Nigeria has called on global defence investors, technology innovators and African partners to invest in its defence industry, with the Federal Government announcing plans to commence massive local production of defence hardware within the next one year for domestic use and export.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made the call at the opening ceremony of the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX 2026), which runs from October 26 to 30 at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
The Chief Information Officer of the Ministry of Defence, Queenet Iheoma-Hart, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the President urged African countries and global innovators to build defence partnerships based on mutual trust, respect and shared values.
Represented by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu said the growing complexity and interconnected nature of security threats required stronger cooperation among African countries and global technology leaders, particularly in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
He stressed that those entrusted with safeguarding peace must deploy every available means to preserve it, warning that Africa could not afford to ignore emerging trends in military equipment, personnel training and defence cooperation.
The President noted that peace and stability create opportunities, strengthen public institutions and inspire confidence in the future, adding that Nigeria’s talented young population needed opportunities to contribute to national development.
He urged participants to use the exhibition to exchange knowledge, hold bilateral meetings, sign memoranda of understanding and explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
“Let the partnerships formed here strengthen our readiness. Let the knowledge exchanged here inspire our innovators. And let the commitments made here produce tangible results that our people can see and experience,” the President said.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), said Nigeria would begin massive local production of defence hardware within one year, with the capacity to meet domestic requirements and supply other African countries.
Musa urged local and international investors to take advantage of the exhibition to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s defence industry, stressing that increased domestic production would strengthen the country’s defence capabilities while creating opportunities for exports.
He added that the exhibition’s side engagements would deepen bilateral and multilateral relations among defence establishments, government representatives, industry stakeholders and strategic partners.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, described AFRIDEX as a dynamic platform capable of achieving its objectives and advancing cooperation in the defence sector.
In separate goodwill messages, the Lagos State Governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and the representative of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Birame Diop, expressed optimism that the exhibition would provide an inclusive platform for African countries to strengthen and revitalise their defence industries.
The Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General B.I. Alaya, commended President Tinubu for his continued support for the corporation and pledged to enhance its production capacity.
Following the opening ceremony, the Minister of Defence inspected exhibition stands featuring defence products and technologies from participating countries and held an executive meeting with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The exhibition has attracted dignitaries, including the Chief of Defence Staff, serving and retired service chiefs, the Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Defence and representatives from more than 20 African countries.
