The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has warned defence contractors against inflating contracts figures, adding that such action is detrimental to the country.

The minister stated this while delivering the keynote adress at the opening of Nigeria – Turkiye Defence Industry Business Forum in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the ministry under his watch will not tolerate such act going forward.

“In the past there have been contract negotiations and contacts that caused a lot of pains on both sides

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal that whatever we want to do let us be sincere, honest and direct in whatever it is that will benefit both countries.

“We don’t want contractors that would over inflate figures and make difficult for us as a country. Things that we could acquire in large quantities we buy only few and we suffer as a country because of personal interest.

“Please in the past it has been like that, presently it must change. The president wants us to be sincere in what we are doing both Nigerian counterpart and Turkiye counterparts so both countries would benefit in what we are doing,” he said.

The minister said the forum provides an important platform for both countries to take their defence partnership to the next level.

“Our objective should be to translate our longstanding bilateral cooperation into practical industrial partnerships, sustainable investments, technology-driven collaboration and enduring defence capabilities.

“We must therefore progressively move beyond a predominantly buyer–seller relationship towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial partnership founded on joint production, local manufacturing, technology transfer, research and development, maintenance, repair and overhaul, skills development and sustainable industrial cooperation,” he said.

The minister noted that Nigeria is firmly committed to building a strong, self-reliant and globally competitive defence industrial base.

He said, “The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 provides an important institutional and legal framework for advancing this ambition, while creating greater opportunities for private-sector participation, strategic investment, technology transfer and partnerships with reputable international defence manufacturers.

“Our ambition goes beyond meeting Nigeria’s immediate defence requirements. We seek to develop an industrial ecosystem capable of positioning Nigeria as a competitive defence manufacturing hub in Africa—one that creates quality employment, develops highly skilled Nigerian professionals, strengthens domestic supply chains, promotes innovation and contributes to national security as well as broader economic development.”

He added that the vision is particularly important at a time when the global security environment is becoming increasingly complex and technologically driven.

“Contemporary conflicts are demonstrating the growing importance of unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, advanced communications, cyber capabilities, precision systems, surveillance technologies, space-based assets and other emerging technologies,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Gokman Ucar, Vice President, SSB Turkiye and Head of the Turkish Defence Delegation, said the forum could open new chapter in Nigeria-Tukiye defence partnership by bringing companies from the two countries.
He added that discussion would also focus on joint production and technology transfer.

” Firstly, we’ll look at the big picture by reviewing our strategic defence partnership through the lens of defence industrialisation.

“We’ll continue by focusing on joint production, technology transfer and localization and be informed about the regulatory and investment framework in Nigeria for establishing strategic partnerships,” he said.