
The Nigerian government has revealed plans to enhance its security cooperation with China, focusing on local arms production and military training.
This initiative is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to combat terrorism and improve security both domestically and in the broader African region.
During a briefing with State House correspondents, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, shared details about the discussions between President Bola Tinubu and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, who visited Nigeria as part of his diplomatic tour of four African nations, including Namibia, the DR Congo, and Chad.
Tuggar highlighted the significance of strengthening ties with China, noting that the collaboration would enable Nigeria, as well as neighboring countries, to more effectively address shared security challenges. “We want to work with countries like China to localize the production of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic. This will help us avoid delays and excessive regulations that often come with procurement from external sources,” Tuggar stated.
This move aligns with comments made by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who recently pointed out that arms procurement has been a major obstacle for the military, with bureaucratic delays often hindering the timely delivery of critical equipment. General Musa has even suggested the possibility of recruiting skilled citizens to assist in the local production of firearms and military-grade equipment.
Tuggar reinforced this message, emphasizing that Nigeria seeks to achieve self-reliance in its arms production and would not rely on private military companies to solve its security challenges. “We must address our problems ourselves, without relying on external entities. Nigeria has always been a responsible country, adhering to its constitution, with no expansionist ambitions. This is why other nations have so much confidence in us,” he said.
The partnership between Nigeria and China also underscores a shared commitment to African-led solutions to regional security issues, rejecting external interference. In line with this, Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, emphasized the importance of African nations taking control of their own peacekeeping and counterterrorism initiatives. He pledged China’s support for Africa’s security, including a CN¥1 billion military assistance package aimed at enhancing the continent’s security capabilities.
This assistance will include training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 law enforcement officers across various African countries. Additionally, China will continue its support for the African Standby Force and rapid response units, which are crucial for regional peacekeeping efforts. “China will firmly support Africa in strengthening its peace and security capacity, and we will work with Africa to implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI), making it a prime example of cooperation,” Wang affirmed.
Wang also reiterated China’s commitment to opposing power politics and external domination in Africa, advocating for true multilateralism and the protection of Africa’s legitimate interests.