By Joy Odor
Nigeria has opened a new chapter in global defence diplomacy as the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, held a high-stakes bilateral meeting with China’s Minister of Equipment and Development, Air Chief Marshal Xu Xueqiang, on the sidelines of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
At the closed-door session, both nations agreed to fast-track cooperation in defence technology transfer, strengthen indigenous military production, and cement broader defence-industrial collaboration.
Key highlights of the talks include plans to:
Forge direct industrial partnerships between Nigerian and Chinese defence manufacturers.
Bolster technical and institutional capacity in Nigeria’s defence sector.
Launch cooperative training, exchange programmes and joint projects to enhance interoperability.
Pursue sustainable technology transfer within the framework of Nigerian law and global obligations.
The meeting marks a major step in Nigeria’s push for self-reliance in defence production, with Badaru emphasising transparent, mutually beneficial agreements that not only enhance national security but also stimulate economic and technological development.
Both sides agreed to empower relevant agencies to follow up with technical studies and concrete proposals that could crystallise into binding agreements in the near future.
The Beijing Xiangshan Forum, now in its 12th edition, has drawn defence chiefs, policymakers and security experts from over 100 countries.
Nigeria’s active participation signals its growing influence in international defence diplomacy and commitment to building a modern, resilient military capability.
