In a major push to strengthen Nigeria’s defence capacity and deepen strategic partnerships, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, MON, has secured commitments from India to expand bilateral cooperation in critical military areas.
During a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, with the Indian Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth, Dr. Matawalle advanced discussions on a range of initiatives that will enhance Nigeria’s operational readiness, indigenous defence production, and technological capability.
Central to the talks were plans to expand cooperation in counter-terrorism training, research and development, maritime security, including hydrography and anti-piracy operations, as well as strengthening Nigeria’s defence industrial base through technology transfer and joint manufacturing ventures.
Mr. Seth outlined India’s extensive defence industrial capabilities, including the production of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), and Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), affirming India’s readiness to meet Nigeria’s procurement needs and support its operational upgrades.
Minister Matawalle extended an invitation to the Indian delegation to visit Nigeria’s defence industry to explore targeted investment and partnership opportunities that will accelerate the country’s journey towards self-reliance in military hardware production.
On the sidelines of his official visit to India from 11–14 August 2025, Dr. Matawalle also met with top Indian defence industry executives, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a partner of choice for strategic cooperation in Africa’s security architecture.
With a defence relationship rooted in the early 1960s and strengthened by shared democratic values, Nigeria and India are poised to translate decades of goodwill into concrete collaborations that will bolster peace, stability, and modernisation of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, delivering security dividends for Nigerians and enhancing regional stability.
