Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth held a bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss strengthening defence ties between the two nations. The discussions covered a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism training, research and development, maritime cooperation, hydrography, anti-piracy efforts, and defence industry collaboration.
During the meeting, Seth highlighted India’s defence capabilities, showcasing platforms such as the Light Combat Aircraft, Light Combat Helicopter, and Offshore Patrol Vessels. He assured Nigeria of India’s support in meeting its defence requirements and proposed hosting a Nigerian team from the Defence Research and Development Bureau to explore joint R&D projects. In response, Dr Matawalle invited an Indian delegation to Nigeria to explore investment and collaboration opportunities in the country’s defence sector.
The Nigerian delegation is in India from August 11 to 14, engaging with defence industries to further bilateral cooperation. India and Nigeria share deep-rooted defence relations dating back to the early 1960s. As leading democracies in their respective continents, both nations continue to strengthen strategic partnerships and foster long-term collaboration in defence and security.
