A high-level delegation from China’s North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) visited Abuja on March 18 to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation with Nigeria. The visit was part of an expanding military-industrial engagement to advance the Nigeria NORINCO defense partnership through indigenous military production and strategic technology transfer.
Nigeria’s Minister of State received the delegation for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, who reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) into a globally competitive hub for defense manufacturing. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration in achieving Nigeria’s long-term objective of self-reliance in defense production.
The Nigeria NORINCO defense partnership is set to focus on three key pillars:
- Comprehensive technology transfer to enhance local manufacturing infrastructure
- Advanced training and technical capacity building for Nigerian defense personnel
- Increased integration of local content in the development of military hardware and systems
Dr. Matawalle welcomed NORINCO’s willingness to support Nigeria’s defense modernization efforts and highlighted the strategic importance of such partnerships in building a resilient and sustainable security architecture.
China has already supplied Nigeria with a range of military hardware, particularly through NORINCO. These include the VT-4 main battle tanks, SH-5 105mm self-propelled howitzers, and the CS/VP3 ‘Bigfoot’ Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles—all of which are currently in operational service with the Nigerian Armed Forces. These platforms have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and internal security operations.
This renewed engagement under the Nigeria NORINCO defense partnership reflects both nations’ shared commitment to fostering industrial cooperation, strengthening military readiness, and advancing regional security through localized solutions.
