Matawalle Seeks Czech Partnership to Boost Nigeria’s Defence Industry
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle, MON, has embarked on a three-day official working visit to the Czech Republic to strengthen defence industrial cooperation between Nigeria and the Czech Republic.
Matawalle is leading a delegation comprising senior officials of the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
As part of the visit, the minister attended the Czech Air Force Day, Air Show and Defence Exhibition in Ostrava, where modern defence equipment manufactured by the Czech defence industry was showcased.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, Matawalle held a bilateral meeting with the Czech Republic’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Jaromír Zuna (Rtd.).
Discussions focused on strengthening the existing strategic partnership between Nigeria and the Czech Republic, particularly in developing Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capacity through DICON.
Matawalle specifically called for Czech collaboration with DICON to establish an ammunition production line in Nigeria. The two sides also discussed technology transfer, particularly in the areas of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other military hardware.
Responding, the Czech Defence Minister expressed readiness to collaborate with Nigeria and support efforts to enhance DICON’s defence production capabilities, including the transfer of relevant technology.
The minister is also scheduled to visit several defence and security industrial complexes across the Czech Republic as part of efforts to explore further areas of cooperation.
The visit is expected to deepen bilateral defence relations and support Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen local capacity in the production of military equipment and other defence-related technologies.
Matawalle Seeks Czech Partnership to Boost Nigeria’s Defence Industry