Nigeria offers Defence Manufacturing Base Deal to China

Nigeria has invited China to set up defence manufacturing facilities in the African country as part of collaboration between Nigerian and Chinese companies.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence of Nigeria, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana mni, said this to a Chinese delegation that visited the capital, Abuja on March 20.

He said that the partnership between the two countries would “aid the Ministry in achieving its vision of Nigeria becoming one of China’s hubs around the world in the nearest future.”

According to Dr Kana, “Nigeria wants to be a strategic associate with China, such that while producing in China, Nigeria which is rich in human, natural resources as well as finances can also be used as a second home of production.”

In the areas of Defence, the Armed Forces of Nigeria spends over 50% in China.

The Permanent Secretary called on Chinese Defence Corporations to collaborate with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria to improve local production of ammunition, helmets as well as armoured cars.

The leader of SASTIND delegation from China, Lin Yunteng said that the areas of the corporation would include the implementation of projects with an emphasis on the delivery and as well as after-sales services of those products.

He said that both countries should stand on the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Government to a Government cooperation agreement.

From the foreign side, the SASTIND delegation from China has CETC International, NORINCO, Poly Technology and CATIC in attendance at the meeting. While at Nigeria’s side, EPAIL, DIR LTD and IMPERIUM industry Nigeria Limited were represented at the meeting by their Chief Executive Officers.

In his response, the CEO of CETC, Tian Yadbin said that the CETC, a China Electronics Technology Group Corporation is a state enterprise and the only defence electronics group in China. According to Yadbin, in addition to the provision of equipment, the company would provide relevant operation and maintenance training, technical support and logistics service.