Nigeria and China have taken steps to strengthen their defence partnership following a high-level meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, H.E. Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, and China’s Minister of Equipment and Development, Air Chief Marshal Xu Xueqiang, during the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Thursday.
The bilateral talks, held on the sidelines of the global security summit, focused on technology transfer, joint military production, and expanding defence cooperation between the two nations.
Officials said the meeting highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to modernizing its armed forces through strategic partnerships, while China signaled its readiness to share expertise in defence technology and equipment development.
Defence analysts note that closer military ties with China could enhance Nigeria’s capacity to tackle security challenges at home and in the wider West African region, including terrorism, piracy, and transnational crime.
The Xiangshan Forum, one of the world’s leading defence diplomacy platforms, has drawn over 100 countries and international organizations this year under the theme “Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development.”
Nigeria’s active engagement at the forum underscores its ambition to play a stronger role in global security governance.