Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on global defence investors, technology innovators and African security partners to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with Nigeria, declaring the country open to collaborations anchored on mutual trust, respect and shared values.
Tinubu also urged participants at the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) to explore investment opportunities, exchange expertise and develop innovative solutions to address emerging security threats across the continent.
The President, represented by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, made the call on Monday at the opening ceremony of AFRIDEX 2026, which runs from October 26 to 30 at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
The exhibition brings together defence industry stakeholders, government representatives, international investors and security experts to explore opportunities for cooperation, technology transfer and the development of Africa’s defence capabilities.
According to Tinubu, security threats are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, requiring stronger partnerships among African countries and global innovators in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to promote peace and stability.
He stressed that those entrusted with safeguarding peace must deploy the necessary resources, expertise and cooperation to sustain stability, warning that Africa could not afford to ignore emerging trends in military equipment, personnel training and defence collaboration.
The President noted that peace and stability create opportunities for economic growth, strengthen public institutions and enable citizens to approach the future with confidence.
He further emphasised the need for cohesive, value-driven partnerships, noting that Nigeria possesses a talented youth population whose potential can be harnessed through strategic investments and opportunities in the defence sector.
Tinubu urged participants to use the exhibition to exchange knowledge, conduct bilateral engagements, sign memoranda of understanding and explore investment opportunities capable of strengthening Nigeria’s defence industry.
“Let the partnerships formed here strengthen our readiness. Let the knowledge exchanged here inspire our innovators. And let the commitments made here produce tangible results that our people can see and experience,” the President said.
In his remarks, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), disclosed that Nigeria plans to commence large-scale local production of defence hardware within the next year, targeting both domestic requirements and export markets, particularly in Africa.
Musa urged local and international investors to take advantage of the exhibition to invest in Nigeria’s defence industry, describing the sector as an important area for strategic partnerships and industrial development.
He added that engagements scheduled alongside the exhibition would strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations among defence establishments, government representatives, industry stakeholders and other strategic partners.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, described AFRIDEX as a dynamic platform capable of advancing the objectives for which it was established, particularly the promotion of cooperation and the development of defence capabilities.
Similarly, the Lagos State Governor, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, and the representative of the ECOWAS Commission, Birame Diop, expressed optimism that the exhibition would provide an inclusive platform for African countries to strengthen and revitalise their defence industries.
The Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General B.I. Alaya, commended Tinubu for his sustained support for the corporation and pledged to enhance its production capacity.
Following the opening ceremony, the Minister of Defence inspected exhibition stands featuring defence products and technologies from participating countries and held an executive meeting with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Dignitaries at the event included the Chief of Defence Staff, serving and former service chiefs, the Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Defence, and representatives from more than 20 African countries.
The five-day exhibition is expected to provide opportunities for defence industry stakeholders to explore strategic alliances, promote local manufacturing and strengthen cooperation in addressing the continent’s evolving security challenges.
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