Nigeria, China Strengthen Military Training and Arms Production Partnership
Nigeria and China have deepened their security collaboration, focusing on local arms production and military training as part of efforts to combat terrorism and insecurity.
This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, after a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
Wang Yi’s visit, part of a four-nation African tour, has seen stops in Namibia, DR Congo, and Chad. The discussions in Nigeria centered on expanding military cooperation and strengthening Nigeria’s defense capacity through local arms manufacturing.
Tuggar emphasized the importance of self-reliance in military hardware production, stating:
“We want to work with countries like China in domesticating the production of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic. We need to be able to produce locally instead of facing procurement delays.”
The move aligns with recent comments from Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who highlighted procurement bottlenecks as a major challenge for frontline troops. Musa revealed plans to recruit skilled citizens for the local production of firearms and military equipment.
Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s commitment to African security, pledging a CN¥1bn military assistance package, which includes training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police officers, as well as support for the African Standby Force.
The Chinese diplomat also backed African-led security solutions, opposing foreign interference in regional affairs.
“China will work with Africa to strengthen peace and security capacity while ensuring no room for power politics or bullying,” Wang said.
Additionally, President Tinubu urged China to expand its $2bn currency swap deal with Nigeria and called for an upward review of the $50bn aid package for Africa, emphasizing the continent’s infrastructure needs.
He also sought China’s support for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat, highlighting the nation’s role as a leader in West African security and development.
