Nigeria's Defence Minister Engages Global Firms at AFRIDEX 2026

Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, conducted discussions with local and international defence industry leaders on 29 October during the Africa International Defence Exhibition 2026 at Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The meetings aimed to strengthen Nigeria's indigenous military production and acquire advanced security technologies.

Matawalle met with Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Musa Heybet, and General Jeanne from France’s Direction générale de l’armement, among other industry representatives. He toured exhibition stands showcasing defence equipment and technologies from various countries, including Nigeria, Türkiye, and China.

The exhibition, hosted by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria in collaboration with DMG Events UK, began on 26 October and is set to conclude on 29 October. It attracted stakeholders from Africa and beyond to explore partnerships in research, technology transfer, and local defence production, supporting Nigeria's ambition for a self-reliant defence industry.