What To Know About Nigeria’s Partnership With China After Recent Meeting

• Nigeria, China discuss local arms production collaboration.
• Military training partnership aims to combat regional insecurity.
• Agreement highlights African-led solutions and reduced foreign reliance.

The Nigerian government has announced plans to strengthen its security collaboration with China, focusing on local arms production and military training.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that this initiative, aimed at combating terrorism and insecurity within Nigeria and across the region, was disclosed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, during a briefing with State House correspondents.

The announcement followed a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Wang Yi’s visit to Nigeria was part of his four-nation African tour, which also included stops in Namibia, DR Congo, and Chad. Tuggar emphasized that the collaboration with China would help Nigeria and neighboring countries respond more effectively to security challenges by domesticating the production of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic.

The push for local arms production aligns with remarks by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who identified arms procurement delays as a major challenge for the military. Musa highlighted that prolonged regulations often hinder the timely delivery of critical equipment for frontline troops. He suggested leveraging Chinese expertise and recruiting skilled Nigerians to produce firearms and military-grade equipment locally.

Tuggar also reiterated Nigeria’s position against relying on private military companies for addressing security issues. Instead, he emphasized the need for internal solutions and collaboration with partners like China, reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa’s security efforts, particularly in the Sahel region.

China reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Africa’s security initiatives during Wang Yi’s visit.

This includes a CN¥1 billion military assistance package for Africa, training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police officers, and support for the African Standby Force and rapid response units.

Wang Yi stressed the importance of African nations taking ownership of their security efforts while opposing external interference in the continent’s affairs.

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