Matawalle visits Turkish defence giant MKE in Istanbul

The Nigerian Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has visited the Turkish defence company, Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), in Istanbul as part of Nigeria’s participation in the ongoing IDEF 2025 Defence Industry Exhibition.

MKE, one of Turkey’s leading state-owned military manufacturers, is renowned for producing high-grade weapons, ammunition, and advanced defence systems essential to Turkey’s national security.

Matawalle, who led a high-level Nigerian delegation to the exhibition, was received by the CEO of MKE, Ilhami Keleş. Discussions focused on military innovations, self-sufficiency in defence production, and prospects for bilateral cooperation in defence manufacturing.

A statement from his media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, confirmed that the visit aimed to assess emerging technologies and identify strategic areas for partnership between Nigeria and Turkey.

MKE plays a crucial role in Turkey’s drive towards self-reliance in defence. It has grown into a major player in global military supply chains, providing cutting-edge solutions across land, air, and sea defence domains.

He said “Nigeria’s engagement with MKE reflects its broader ambition to revamp local defence industries and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.

“The visit formed part of Nigeria’s activities at the 17th edition of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), which is hosting over 900 Turkish and 400 international firms from 44 countries.

“The Nigerian delegation also included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda; Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, the Chief of Air Staff’s representative, AVM Yusuf; Major General B.I Alaya; and the Director-General of DICON, Brigadier General M.L Abubakar.

“During the visit, the team toured various exhibition stands to study new technologies and explore future collaboration in defence and security.

“Matawalle is also scheduled to hold further bilateral talks with other defence leaders during the exhibition, including counterparts from Azerbaijan and Turkey.”