Nigeria, South Africa Strengthen Security Partnership
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Nuratu Batagarawa has said Nigeria established the Defence Industries Association (DIAN), to enhance collaboration with the South African aerospace and military technology company DENEL.
She made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 4th Nigeria-South Africa Defence Committee Meeting (DEFCOM) held in Abuja.
Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa who said that Nigeria now has a fully functional Defence Industries Association known as Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN), recollects that a bilateral agreement was signed by Nigeria and South Africa in the exchange of experiences on Peace Keeping Operations, border safeguarding and security, cyber security, army aviation and collaboration in the field of military health.
She said, “Today’s meeting is therefore expected to leverage on the gains of our previous DEFCOM in order to sustain the momentum of our success. The Nigerian delegation has arrayed five thematic working groups with discussants on Research, Development and Innovative of Defence Equipment; Specialized Military Training; Capacity Building in Space Defence Technology; Medical Training and Defence Personnel and Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency. On the part of MOD, we have equally identified some areas of collaboration which would be discussed during this meeting.”
In his remarks, Secretary of South Africa’s Ministry of Defence & Military Veterans, Dr Sam Gulube, who was represented by a Defence Chief in South Africa, Amb. Bagumzi Sifingo, commended the Nigerian Military on its gallant contributions towards peacekeeping globally.
He remarked that “Modernisation of technology of defence industries of various countries is currently in vogue and Nigeria and South Africa must not be seen lagging behind. When our collaborative efforts become operational, DICON will have the capacity to produce some of the modern military hardwares within the country.
The event also witnessed the exhibition of military wares and equipments by both Nigeria and South African Defence Related Industries (DRIs) at the Command Officers’ Mess Asokoro, Abuja.
By PRNigeria
