PICTORIAL: FG Targets Local Arms Production As Defence Minister Leads Strategic China Mission

The federal government has stepped up efforts to strengthen its defence manufacturing capacity, with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd),  leading a high-level delegation to China for strategic talks on military technology transfer, local arms production and defence cooperation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the Ministry of Defence said the week-long visit is aimed at deepening bilateral defence relations between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China while accelerating the modernisation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

The statement said the Nigerian delegation began its engagements at the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) Innovation Centre in Beijing, where discussions focused on emerging defence technologies and the integration of artificial intelligence into Nigeria’s national security architecture.

Speaking during the visit, Musa said the Federal Government’s priority was to leverage strategic partnerships that would enable Nigeria to manufacture defence equipment locally rather than depend on foreign imports.

“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,” he said.

He added that integrating emerging technologies and artificial intelligence into Nigeria’s security architecture would position the Armed Forces ahead of evolving asymmetric threats.

As part of the visit, the delegation also toured the headquarters and exhibition centre of China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), where it inspected a range of military equipment, including land combat platforms, advanced artillery systems, specialised ammunition and integrated defence solutions.

The minister later held a closed-door meeting with NORINCO’s President and senior executives, during which discussions centred on technology transfer, technical capacity building, and the establishment of joint production lines in Nigeria in partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

The delegation also visited the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, where Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd) received the team and described the visit as timely, saying it would further strengthen the strategic relationship between both countries.

According to the statement, Dambazau pledged the embassy’s full diplomatic support towards advancing Nigeria’s defence interests throughout the mission.

Musa also met with Defence Attachés and staff at the embassy’s Defence Section, commending their commitment to promoting Nigeria’s military diplomacy in Asia and urging them to remain worthy representatives of the country abroad.

The Ministry of Defence said the visit is expected to yield both immediate and long-term benefits through enhanced military capabilities, equipment modernisation, stronger logistics and supply chains, increased local defence production, greater self-reliance and deeper bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China.