Strengthening Security: Nigerians Abroad Praise Defence Partnership With India

The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has praised the strengthening of defence ties between Nigeria and India, calling it a strategic move toward addressing the country’s security challenges.

According to iReporter Online, the renewed bilateral engagement, covering counter-terrorism training, maritime cooperation, research and development, and defence industry investment, reflects a forward-looking administration committed to sustainable security reforms.

In a statement signed by its President, Prince Maduka Ezeagu, NDMG said the four-day working visit of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to India from August 11 to 14, 2025, marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s international defence cooperation.

According to iReporter Online, the meeting between Dr. Matawalle and India’s Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Sanjay Seth, has opened critical avenues for Nigeria to leverage India’s military expertise, including the production of Light Combat Aircraft, Light Combat Helicopters, and Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Ezeagu emphasized that the partnership goes beyond diplomatic optics, highlighting its practical potential to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.

“With insecurity threatening both urban and rural stability, Nigeria needs international allies willing to share technology, provide advanced training, and invest in our defence industry,” he said.

According to iReporter Online, this collaboration aligns with the Federal Government’s focus on revitalizing local defence manufacturing, which could accelerate Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence technology over the next decade.

The NDMG also welcomed Dr. Matawalle’s invitation to Indian defence firms to invest in Nigeria, noting that such initiatives would enhance the nation’s defence capacity, create jobs, and develop technical skills.

Ezeagu stressed the importance of including joint research and development in the partnership to ensure Nigeria becomes not just a consumer of foreign military technology but also an innovator.

He concluded by reaffirming the group’s support for the Tinubu administration’s defence policies, expressing confidence that disciplined execution of the Nigeria–India defence partnership will significantly enhance national security, deter threats, and foster economic growth.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”