By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, has called for strengthened defence collaboration between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. This appeal was made during a high-level meeting at the British Parliament’s House of Lords.
Ambassador Aduda, a former Governor of OPEC and now serving as Permanent Secretary, met with Lord Jonathan Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), to discuss opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of defence, security, and industrial development.
The meeting was convened in light of increasing global security complexities and the pressing need for sustainable defence partnerships. Central to the discussions was the restructuring and revitalization of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the country’s premier defence manufacturing institution.
Ambassador Aduda emphasized the Nigerian Government’s commitment to transforming DICON into a commercially viable and investor-attractive entity capable of addressing domestic security needs while contributing to regional and international defence solutions.
He highlighted the necessity of clearly separating DICON’s regulatory functions from its commercial and manufacturing responsibilities, stating that this delineation is crucial for unlocking the institution’s potential and fostering an environment conducive to private sector investment, especially Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
“In its current form, DICON possesses significant potential, but it requires a more defined governance and operational structure to attract credible global partners.
“A restructured DICON, operating within a clearly defined regulatory and commercial framework, will provide the transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence needed to stimulate local innovation and foster international collaboration. He said
Lord Marland welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to modernize and sustain its defence industry.
He underscored the importance of partnerships that facilitate knowledge transfer, technology co-development, and capacity building. He noted that institutions like the CWEIC provide a valuable platform for connecting reputable UK defence and security firms with Nigeria’s strategic defence infrastructure transformation initiatives.
The discussions also explored opportunities for investment in defence infrastructure, specialized training programs, and joint production ventures between Nigerian and British firms.
Additionally, both parties agreed that these initiatives would enhance Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence production and contribute to regional security and economic growth.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to develop a follow-up framework that will engage key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. This framework will explore avenues such as roundtable dialogues, technical evaluations, and business-to-business partnerships to chart a sustainable path for long-term UK-Nigeria defence industrial collaboration.
As Nigeria works to assert itself as a regional hub for defence manufacturing and innovation, strategic engagements like this highlight the critical role of forward-looking leadership, progressive policy reforms, and global partnerships in transforming the nation's defence sector.
