Defense minister warns contractors against inflating figures

Defense Minister General Christopher Musa (retd) has warned defense contractors against inflating contract figures, adding that such action is harmful to the country.

The minister stated this while delivering the opening remarks at the Nigeria-Turkiye Defense Industry Business Forum in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the ministry under his control will not tolerate such an act in the future.

“In the past there have been contractual negotiations and contacts that have caused quite a bit of suffering on both sides

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal that whatever we want to do we must be sincere, honest and direct in whatever benefits both countries.

“We don’t want entrepreneurs who would overinflate the numbers and make it difficult for our country. Of what we could acquire in large quantities we buy only a few and we suffer as a country due to personal interests.

“Please, in the past it was like this, currently it has to change. The president wants us to be sincere in what we are doing against both the Nigerian and Turkish counterparts, so that both countries benefit from what we are doing,” he said.

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

“Our goal should be to translate our long-standing bilateral cooperation into practical industrial partnerships, sustainable investments, technology-driven collaboration and durable defense capabilities.

“We must therefore progressively move beyond a predominantly buyer-seller relationship towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial partnership, based on joint production, local production, 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 defense industrial base.

He said: “The Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill 2023 provides an important institutional and legal framework to advance this ambition, while creating greater opportunities for private sector participation, strategic investments, technology transfer and partnerships with renowned international defense manufacturers.

“Our ambition goes beyond meeting Nigeria’s immediate defense needs. We seek to develop an industrial ecosystem that positions Nigeria as a competitive defense manufacturing hub in Africa, creates quality jobs, develops highly skilled Nigerian professionals, strengthens domestic supply chains, promotes innovation and contributes to national security and broader economic development.”

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

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

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

“ First, we will look at the big picture by reviewing our strategic defense partnership through the lens of defense industrialization.

“We will continue to focus on joint manufacturing, technology transfer and localization and will be informed about the regulatory and investment framework in Nigeria to establish strategic partnerships,” he said.