In its concerted efforts to end insurgency activities in the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to enhancing military cooperation with the State of Israel.
This was contained in a statement made available to defence correspondents in Abuja by Sani Datti, on behalf of the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence (MOD).
According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman.
The statement explained that during their meeting, the two officials discussed strategies for bolstering defence cooperation, strengthening mutual security frameworks, and exploring opportunities for enhanced military training and capacity building within the Nigerian Armed Forces.
It added that Ambassador Aduda highlighted the critical need to deepen defence ties in light of evolving global security challenges.
He emphasised the importance of strategic areas such as joint operations, knowledge exchange, and the modernisation of defence collaboration.
Furthermore, discussions included plans to finalise a new bilateral defence agreement aimed at fostering technical collaboration in defence industry development.
The statement also noted that the Ministry of Defence is in the process of reforming the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to achieve effective regulation of the sector.
According to the Permanent Secretary, “Soon, we will have the regulatory arm of DICON to regulate and license participation in the defence industry, as well as the commercial arm that will enter into partnerships and collaborations to assemble or manufacture arms and ammunition, UAVs, and armoured vehicles alongside reputable original equipment manufacturers globally.
“The Ministry will engage in strategic initiatives to replicate successful Israeli military cooperation frameworks in Nigeria, thereby enhancing our national defence architecture.”
In response, Ambassador Michael Freeman expressed gratitude for the positive response from the Nigerian Government and underscored the significance of the partnership as a progressive step towards achieving innovative defence solutions. He extended a formal invitation to Ambassador Aduda and his team to visit Israel, with the goal of further strengthening the ties between the two nations.
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