Amid Broader African Engagement
On March 18, a senior delegation from China’s North Industries Corporation (Norinco) arrived in Abuja, signaling a deepening of defense ties between China and Nigeria.
This visit represents a pivotal moment in bilateral military-industrial relations, reinforcing a partnership aimed at advancing Nigeria’s defense capabilities through strategic collaboration. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, welcomed the delegation, framing the engagement as a cornerstone of the nation’s ambition to achieve self-reliance in defense production.
The Nigerian government has prioritized the transformation of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) into a world-class defense manufacturing entity. Dr. Matawalle underscored that partnerships with global leaders like Norinco are essential to this endeavor.
The collaboration focuses on three key areas: the transfer of advanced manufacturing technologies to bolster Nigeria’s industrial base, specialized training programs to enhance the technical expertise of defense personnel, and the integration of local resources into the production of military equipment.
This approach aims to modernize Nigeria’s armed forces while laying the foundation for a self-sustaining defense sector capable of addressing both current and emerging security challenges.
Early last year, China sort to expand its military and economic influence in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and largest economy, by establishing its military industry in the country. This was revealed by the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Cui Jian Chun, during his visit to the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, in Abuja in November 2023.
At the time, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar, welcomed China’s interest in Nigeria’s defence sector and said the Federal Government would collaborate with the Chinese government in technology transfer, intelligence sharing, and military training in its quest to tackle insecurity in the country.
He said there has been a lot of working relationship with the Chinese companies on the transfer of technology and talk on military equipment production.
Subsequently, in January 2025, Nigeria and China pledged to enhance their military collaboration by focusing on training and local arms manufacturing. This partnership comes in the wake of China’s announcement of a CN¥1 billion grant aimed at training over 7,000 military personnel across various countries, including Nigeria.
The disclosure was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to self-reliance in military production, stating, “We want to work with countries like China in domesticating the production of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic. This will eliminate delays and bureaucratic hurdles associated with external procurement.”
Evidence of the partnership’s impact is already visible in Nigeria’s military arsenal. Norinco-supplied systems, including the VT-4 main battle tanks, SH-5 105mm self-propelled howitzers, and CS/VP3 ‘Bigfoot’ Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, have been deployed effectively in ongoing counter-insurgency operations. These platforms have significantly enhanced the Nigerian Armed Forces’ capacity to respond to asymmetric threats, particularly in volatile regions where operational flexibility and resilience are paramount.
Norinco’s engagement with Nigeria is part of a broader strategy to expand its influence across Africa’s defense landscape. The corporation has recently pursued initiatives in Senegal and established a drone production agreement with Uganda, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the continent’s security and industrial development.
For Nigeria, this partnership offers access to cutting-edge technology and expertise, reducing reliance on imported hardware and fostering a more robust domestic defense industry.
As Nigeria confronts a dynamic and multifaceted security environment, the collaboration with Norinco stands as a critical enabler of its defense modernization efforts. By emphasizing technology transfer, skill development, and localized production, this partnership not only strengthens Nigeria’s immediate operational capabilities but also positions DICON as a potential leader in regional defense manufacturing.
The strategic alignment with Norinco reflects a forward-looking approach to building a resilient and independent defense framework for the future.
