Defence Minister Matawalle Inspects AFRIDEX 2026 Venue

Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, conducted an inspection of the preparations for the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX 2026) on October 25 at Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The exhibition is set to officially open on October 26 and will run until October 29.

In a statement from his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, Matawalle praised Brigadier General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and his team for their efforts in organizing the event. AFRIDEX 2026 aims to gather military leaders, government officials, defence manufacturers, technology developers, and investors from Africa and beyond.

The exhibition will showcase defence technologies and indigenous innovations across various domains, including land, maritime, air, and cyber operations. It is designed to facilitate discussions on emerging security threats, technology transfer, and investment opportunities, while promoting local manufacturing capabilities and collaboration between defence companies and procurement officials.