Matawalle Seeks Czech Support for DICON Ammunition Production, Technology Transfer
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has sought the support of the Czech Republic for the establishment of an ammunition production line in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
Matawalle made the request during a bilateral meeting with his Czech counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Jaromír Zuna (rtd.), on the sidelines of the Czech Air Force Day, Air Show and Defence Exhibition in Ostrava.
The meeting formed part of Matawalle’s three-day official working visit to the Czech Republic aimed at strengthening defence-industrial cooperation between both countries.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Defence’s Chief Information Officer, Queeneth Iheoma-Hart, said the Nigerian minister led a delegation comprising senior officials of the Ministry of Defence, DICON and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
The delegation attended the defence exhibition, where modern and heavy military equipment manufactured by Czech defence companies was displayed.
According to the statement, discussions between the two ministers focused on strengthening the existing strategic partnership between Nigeria and the Czech Republic, particularly in expanding Nigeria’s domestic capacity for the manufacture and production of military hardware.
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Matawalle specifically advocated a partnership between Czech defence companies and DICON to establish an ammunition production line in Nigeria.
The two sides also discussed technology transfer, with particular emphasis on the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other military hardware.
The minister’s request is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to expand domestic defence production capacity and reduce dependence on external sources for critical military equipment and ammunition.
Responding, Zuna expressed the Czech Republic’s readiness to deepen defence cooperation with Nigeria and support efforts to strengthen DICON’s production capabilities.
He also assured the Nigerian delegation of the Czech Republic’s willingness to facilitate the transfer of relevant technologies as part of the proposed cooperation.
The Ministry said the Czech minister welcomed Matawalle’s visit and expressed readiness to collaborate with Nigeria in enhancing the country’s defence-industrial capabilities.
As part of the visit, Matawalle is scheduled to tour several defence and security industrial complexes across the Czech Republic to gain further insight into the country’s defence manufacturing capabilities and explore areas for possible collaboration.
The visit is expected to provide an avenue for Nigeria to examine opportunities for industrial partnerships, technical cooperation and technology transfer that could support the development of the country’s indigenous defence production capacity.
By PRNigeria
