Nigeria, Egypt Move to Deepen Defence Ties, Explore Local Ammunition Production

 ABUJA — Nigeria and Egypt are moving to deepen defence cooperation, with discussions under way on establishing an ammunition production line in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen the country's military-industrial capacity.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, led a high-level Nigerian delegation on a two-day visit to Egyptian defence industry establishments, where officials examined opportunities for industrial partnerships and technology transfer.

The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Intelligence Agency and Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

During the first day of the visit, the delegation toured the manufacturing facilities of Eagle International for Defence Systems Company in Suez, examining defence systems and industrial processes developed by the Egyptian company.

Matawalle said the visit was strategic and focused primarily on developing sustainable industrial partnerships rather than immediate equipment procurement.

He said Nigeria was seeking opportunities to work with Egypt, particularly through DICON, on the joint manufacture of selected military equipment and systems.

Such cooperation, he said, would help expand Nigeria's indigenous production capacity, develop specialised technical skills, increase local content and facilitate the transfer of relevant technology and industrial expertise.

On the second day, the Nigerian delegation held talks with Egypt's Ministry of Military Production in Cairo. The discussions centred on areas of mutual interest, including the prospect of establishing an ammunition production line in Nigeria through structured technical and industrial cooperation.

Both sides expressed interest in advancing the proposed partnership and working towards formal agreements that would provide a framework for its implementation.

The initiative forms part of Nigeria's broader drive to reduce dependence on external sources for critical defence equipment and strengthen its ability to meet the operational requirements of its armed forces through domestic production.

Matawalle has made the development of Nigeria's defence industrial base a key priority, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Federal Government's strategy is aimed at improving national defence self-reliance while promoting indigenous innovation, technological development and economic opportunities linked to defence industrialisation.

The Ministry of Defence said the Egypt visit represented an important step towards converting that policy into practical partnerships capable of strengthening Nigeria's defence manufacturing capabilities.

It added that further engagements with Egyptian defence institutions would focus on developing concrete frameworks for technology and knowledge transfer and building a more resilient and technologically advanced defence industrial base in Nigeria.

The ministry also expressed appreciation to the Egyptian authorities for their reception and constructive engagements, saying the emerging areas of cooperation could deliver long-term strategic benefits to both countries.

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