Nigerian Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has embarked on a 3-day official working visit to the Czech Republic. The visit aims to strengthen defence industrial cooperation between Nigeria and the Czech Republic. Matawalle led a delegation of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
During the visit, Matawalle attended the Czech Air Force Day/Air Show and Defence Exhibition in Ostrava. The exhibition showcased modern and heavy defence equipment produced by the Czech defence industry. This provided an opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to witness the capabilities of the Czech defence sector and explore potential areas of collaboration.
Matawalle held a strategic bilateral meeting with his Czech counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Jaromír Zuna. The meeting focused on strengthening the existing strategic partnership and deepening collaboration between Nigeria and the Czech Republic. The goal is to enhance DICON's manufacturing and production capacity in military hardware production.
Matawalle emphasized the need for the Czech Republic to partner with DICON to establish an ammunition production line in Nigeria. The issue of Transfer of Technology (ToT) to Nigeria, particularly in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other military hardware, was also discussed. The Czech Minister of Defence expressed delight over the visit and assured Matawalle of the Czech Republic's readiness to collaborate with and support Nigeria.
The Czech Republic has expressed willingness to support Nigeria in enhancing DICON's defence production capabilities, including the requisite transfer of technology. This cooperation aims to boost Nigeria's domestic production of military hardware and reduce reliance on imports. The transfer of technology is expected to have a positive impact on Nigeria's defence industry.
As part of the visit, Matawalle is scheduled to tour several Defence and Security industrial complexes across the Czech Republic. This will provide him with an opportunity to witness firsthand the capabilities of the Czech defence industry and explore potential areas of collaboration. The visit is expected to yield significant benefits for Nigeria's defence sector.
The visit by Matawalle and his delegation demonstrates Nigeria's commitment to strengthening its defence industry and enhancing its security capabilities. The cooperation with the Czech Republic is expected to play a significant role in achieving this goal. Key aspects of the cooperation include technology transfer, joint production, and capacity building for DICON.
Key points
- Nigeria's Minister of State for Defence seeks technology transfer from Czech Republic to enhance DICON's military hardware production capacity.
- The Czech Republic has expressed willingness to collaborate with Nigeria and support its defence production capabilities.
- The cooperation aims to boost Nigeria's domestic production of military hardware and reduce reliance on imports.
