China to establish Assembly Line for Manufacturing Defence Equipment in Nigeria
In order to ensure that Nigeria becomes empowered to locally manufacture high-technology defence equipment, the China National Electronics Inputs and Exports Corporation (CEIEC) has disclosed that it has plans to introduce an Assembly and Production Line for local manufacturing of defence equipment and other military hardwares in the country.
Mr. Eric Zhang, the company’s Manager, Department of Africa Market, made this known, on Wednesday, when he visited the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, at the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja.
“To start with, CEIEC can help provide a tactical radio station as part of the establishing a defence equipment assembly line, for Nigeria. The radio station, which can be utilized by the various military services like the Navy, Air Force and Nigerian Army, will serve as the basic infrastructure for military communication,” he said.
Mr. Zhang, pointed out that the Chinese military industry has an age-long history of robust cooperation and mutual relationship with the Nigerian military.
Hence, he would be glad to see that there is massive number of made-in-China items in Nigeria’s military and defence equipment.
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He added that CEIEC company belongs to the Corporation named China Electronic Corporation, which is mainly responsible for producing major defence products such as C4I System, Command and Control System for defence purposes, and the radar system.
Zhang, further revealed that CEIEC currently has the contract for defence electronic for over 30 countries across the world.
In a remark, Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, said that the army was more interested in building its capacity to be able to produce its equipment.
He said that establishing a production line to either manufacture or assemble some of the equipment would best serve the interest of Nigeria and China.
According to him, the relationship between China and Nigeria is not just starting as there have been so many areas of cooperation in the area of military cooperation.
“As we speak, there are arrangements for the dale and purchase of equipment directly from China for the armed forces of Nigeria.
“One thing that is germane to the future Nigerian army is developing the capacity to be able to produce or assemble some of these things here.
“One, to reduce the time it takes for processes of importing procedure and the bidding time by the country of manufacture takes a lot of time.
“Establishing production line for some of these equipment will best serve the interest of Nigeria and China better.
“This is the area we should be looking at as we continue to establish our relationship further,” he said.
By PRNigeria
