The Nigerian Government says it is deepening its security partnership with the People’s Republic of China for local arms production and military training.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yusuf Tuggar, told journalists after President Bola Tinubu received China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Thursday that the collaboration between two countries was part of the broader strategy to tackle terrorism and other forms of insecurity within and outside Nigerian borders.
The Nigerian minister explained that bolstering cooperation with key partners like China would help Nigeria and its neighbours respond to shared threats more efficiently.
“We want to work with countries like China in domesticating production of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic.
“We’re looking for this, so, we don’t have to go out looking to procure with delays and many rules and regulations. We need to be able to produce locally,” he said.
Tuggar re-echoed this stance and Dispelling the notions that Nigeria would rely on private military companies to tackle its security challenges, the minister underscored Nigeria’s role as a leader in West Africa’s security, particularly in the Sahel.
“Let us work together towards solving our problems by ourselves. Let us shun this idea of allowing others to solve our problems for us. So, private military companies, as far as we are concerned, don’t matter whether they’re from north, south, east, or west. We don’t think it is going to provide the panacea,” Tuggar said.
The Chinese Foreign Affairs, Minister Wang Yi, is on a four-nation week-long African tour, which ends on Saturday after stops in Namibia, DR Congo, Nigeria and Chad.
GIK/APA