Nigeria is advancing its defence industrial ambitions through local manufacturing, investment and international partnerships, with AFRIDEX 2026 set to provide a platform for presenting its capabilities and attracting new collaborators. The inaugural Africa International Defence Exhibition will take place from 26 to 29 October at Eko Atlantic in Lagos, bringing together governments, armed forces, manufacturers, technology providers and investors.
At the centre of Nigeria’s industrial development efforts is the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), working alongside private sector organisations and international partners. The country’s approach places emphasis on establishing local production capacity and developing relationships that could support a more capable and sustainable defence manufacturing base.
Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, Director General of DICON, invited investors and international companies to consider manufacturing partnerships in Nigeria.
“The message to investors and international partners attending AFRIDEX is that Nigeria is open for business in the defence and security sector. DICON is inviting stakeholders and investors who are ready to partner with us to bring manufacturing to Nigeria, allowing DICON and its partners to produce locally.”
His remarks placed local production at the heart of DICON’s engagement with prospective partners. Cooperation could extend beyond manufacturing to engineering, research, maintenance, training and specialist services, with investment and skills development supporting the sector’s longer-term progress.
Nigeria’s ambitions also reflect wider discussions across Africa about strengthening domestic defence capabilities while maintaining international relationships. Partnerships between African manufacturers and overseas companies could combine local expertise and production capacity with technology, experience and investment. Such cooperation could create opportunities for governments, industry, research organisations and investors to address defence and security requirements together.
AFRIDEX is positioned as a meeting point for these interests. Hosted in Nigeria, the exhibition will offer African organisations an opportunity to showcase their capabilities while enabling international companies to understand regional requirements, establish contacts and explore industrial cooperation.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, highlighted the exhibition’s potential role in supporting DICON’s international engagement.
“AFRIDEX provides DICON with an international platform and an opportunity to showcase what it has to offer. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently approved legislation enabling DICON to partner with original equipment manufacturers. AFRIDEX presents a significant opportunity because international companies will attend, allowing us to build on this development and present DICON’s work to the world.”
The minister’s comments connected the exhibition with opportunities for cooperation between DICON and original equipment manufacturers. The focus was on using international participation to present Nigerian capabilities and establish relationships that could contribute to future industrial development.
For participating companies, AFRIDEX will provide an environment for discussions on investment, technology, manufacturing and long-term partnerships. Its value will lie in connecting organisations with complementary capabilities and encouraging conversations about practical collaboration.
Among the exhibitors are Embraer, Leonardo, Arquus, John Cockerill, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Barzan Holdings, , ASIS Boats, Med Marine Holding A.Ş., MilDef, EarthDaily, Resecurity, HAVELSAN, STM, MKECEIA S.p.A., Beretta, ASELSAN, EM&E Group, RTCOM Defense, Turkish Aerospace, RUNFLAT Tire Systems, Resource Industries – UAE, Norinco International Cooperation Ltd. and Yugoimport SDPR, to name a few.
As Nigeria develops its defence industrial base, the Lagos exhibition will bring its ambitions before a wider African and international audience. The event will provide a forum for exploring how local manufacturing, skills development and international cooperation could support defence capability across Nigeria and the continent and support domestic production.
Copyright © DBDC / African Security magazine – DBDC Group CEO Dimitrios Angelopoulos visiting the Niderian company D7G during El Alamein Air Show 2026
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