Group Applauds Nigeria’s Defence Pact With India

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has commended the strengthening of defence ties between Nigeria and India, describing it as a strategic step towards solving the country’s security challenges.

The group said the renewed bilateral engagement, which covers counter-terrorism training, maritime cooperation, research and development, as well as defence industry investment, is a sign of a forward-thinking administration committed to lasting security reforms.

In a statement signed by its President, Prince Maduka Ezeagu, NDMG said the four-day working visit of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to India from August 11 to 14, 2025, marks a new era in Nigeria’s international defence cooperation.

The group lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for pursuing a robust, pragmatic foreign defence policy that places capacity-building, technological transfer, and local production at the centre of national security.

According to the group, the meeting between Dr. Matawalle and India’s Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Sanjay Seth, has opened critical avenues for Nigeria to tap into India’s proven military capabilities, from the production of Light Combat Aircraft and Light Combat Helicopters to Offshore Patrol Vessels.

“This partnership is not mere diplomacy for optics; it is a practical step towards closing the gap in our national security architecture,” Ezeagu said.

“With insecurity threatening both urban and rural stability, Nigeria needs international allies who are willing to share technology, offer advanced training, and invest in our defence industry. The India–Nigeria discussions tick all those boxes and reflect the Tinubu administration’s seriousness in delivering sustainable security solutions.”

He noted that India’s defence industry has a track record of delivering affordable, high-quality equipment suited for diverse terrains, making it an ideal partner for Nigeria’s operational environment.

Ezeagu pointed out that with the Federal Government’s focus on revamping local defence manufacturing, this partnership could fast-track Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence technology within the next decade.

The NDMG further applauded Dr. Matawalle’s invitation to Indian defence companies to invest in Nigeria, saying that such initiatives would not only improve the nation’s defence capacity but also create jobs, enhance technical skills, and boost industrial growth.

“What makes this development even more important is that it is happening at a time when Nigeria is repositioning its military strategy to respond to asymmetric threats such as terrorism, banditry, and piracy. By collaborating with a nation like India, which has decades of experience in counter-insurgency, maritime security, and peacekeeping operations, Nigeria stands to gain immensely,” he said.

The group also highlighted the inclusion of joint research and development in the talks, noting that such collaborations will ensure Nigeria is not just a consumer of foreign military technology but also an innovator. This, they said, aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises modernising the Armed Forces and strengthening institutions tasked with securing the country.

Ezeagu stressed that Nigerians in the diaspora are paying close attention to how the government aligns foreign partnerships with domestic reforms, praising President Tinubu for giving the Defence Ministry both the political backing and operational flexibility to explore high-value global engagements.

“From the perspective of Nigerians abroad, this is exactly the kind of results-driven diplomacy we expect—where state visits translate into tangible benefits for citizens and concrete progress in tackling security challenges,” he said.

“We urge the government to ensure that the follow-up to these agreements is swift, transparent, and measurable in terms of impact on the ground.”

The NDMG urged the Ministry of Defence to establish a joint monitoring framework with its Indian counterpart to ensure timelines and deliverables are met.

They also called for deliberate efforts to involve Nigerian universities, research centres, and local manufacturers in the R&D component of the partnership, ensuring that knowledge transfer is embedded in every stage.

Concluding, Ezeagu reaffirmed the group’s support for the Tinubu administration’s defence policies, expressing confidence that with disciplined execution, the Nigeria–India defence partnership will contribute significantly to restoring peace, deterring threats, and laying the foundation for a secure, economically vibrant nation.