By Lengnan Tobias
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, has led a delegation to China for high-level engagements on defence, security cooperation, and strategic partnership between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.
This is contained in a statement on Tuesday, by Leah Katung-Babatunde, his Special Assistant on Media.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aim of the visit is to deepen bilateral defence cooperation, fast-track the modernisation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), and radically boost Nigeria’s local military production capabilities.
The minister said Nigeria’s proactive strategy to integrate emerging technologies and artificial intelligence into its national security architecture would ensure that the AFN remained ahead of modern asymmetric threats.
According to him, our focus is clear; we are committed to partnerships that do not just make Nigeria a consumer, but an active producer.
”Through DICON, we will expand local production lines, drive absolute technology transfer, and achieve sustainable self-reliance in defence manufacturing to secure our nation.”
In pursuit of defensive self-reliance, Musa visited the headquarters and exhibition centre of the renowned China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO Group).
Also, the delegation toured the exhibition, assessing NORINCO’s robust portfolio of land platforms, advanced artillery systems, specialised ammunition, and integrated defence solutions.
Following the tour, the minister held a closed-door, high-level bilateral meeting with the President and Senior Executives of NORINCO.
Discussions centered heavily on concrete technology transfer, technical capacity building, and establishing joint production lines in Nigeria in direct partnership with DICON.
At the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, the delegation was received by retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, who commended the minister’s timely visit.
Dambazau noted the pivotal role in cementing the strategic geopolitical relationship between Nigeria and China.
He pledged the embassy’s unwavering diplomatic support in advancing Nigeria’s defence interests throughout the week-long mission.
During a subsequent tour of the embassy’s defence section, the minister interacted with defence attachés and staff, praising their commitment to national service and urging them to remain stellar ambassadors of Nigeria’s military diplomacy in Asia.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng
Edited by Deborah Coker