By ZAKAA LAZARUS
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared Nigeria open to defence partnerships built on mutual trust and respect, as the country hosts the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in its history.
President Tinubu stated this at the opening ceremony of AFRIDEX 2026, holding from 26th to 30th October, 2026, at the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
The President’s message was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Queenet Iheoma-Hart.
Represented by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu said security threats are becoming more complex and interconnected, and called on African defence partners and global innovators in Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies to partner with Nigeria to ensure peace and stability on the continent.
He noted that those entrusted with securing peace must do all within their means to keep the peace, stressing that while peace has no alternative, Africa cannot afford to ignore new trends in military equipment, personnel training and cooperation based on shared values.
According to him, with peace and stability, opportunities are created, public institutions earn trust and the future can be approached with confidence. He emphasized the need for a cohesive, value-driven partnership, adding that Nigeria is blessed with talented young people who require opportunities to thrive.
“Let the partnerships formed here strengthen our readiness. Let the knowledge exchanged here inspire our innovators. And let the commitments made here produce tangible results that our people can see and experience,” Tinubu said.
He urged participants to leverage the exhibition to share knowledge, hold bilateral meetings, sign Memoranda of Understanding and explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.
Earlier, Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), urged participants to invest in Nigeria’s defence sector, disclosing that Nigeria will commence massive local production of defence hardware within the next one year for both domestic use and export, particularly to other African nations.
Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, described AFRIDEX as a dynamic platform capable of achieving the objectives for which it was conceived.
In their goodwill messages, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the representative of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Birame Diop, expressed optimism that the gathering would help African countries upscale their defence sectors.
Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General B.I. Alaya, commended President Tinubu for his sustained support and pledged enhanced production capacity.
After the ceremony, the Minister of Defence inspected exhibition stands and held an executive meeting with the United States delegation.
Dignitaries present included the Chief of Defence Staff, serving and former Service Chiefs, Chairman, National Assembly Committee on Defence, and representatives from over 20 African countries.
