Nigeria's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, His Excellency, Lt Gen Ambassador Abdulrahman Dambazau, is facilitating ongoing discussions between China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) and Biswakarma Enterprise Nigeria Limited towards establishing a defence equipment assembly plant in Nigeria.
NORINCO, a major Chinese state-owned defence and industrial corporation and a key platform for the development of advanced mechanized, digitized, and intelligent equipment for the People's Liberation Army (PLA), has maintained a longstanding relationship with Nigeria as a supplier of defence equipment.
The current discussions represent a potentially significant evolution in the Nigeria–China defence relationship—from equipment supply towards local assembly, technology transfer, skills development, and eventual manufacturing in Nigeria.
Under the proposed arrangement, the parties are exploring the establishment of an assembly plant using Completely Knocked Down (CKD) components as an initial phase, with the longer-term objective of developing the infrastructure and technical capacity required for progressively greater local production of defence equipment.
The Embassy of Nigeria in Beijing is playing a facilitative and mediatory role in the ongoing discussions between the two parties, with the expectation that the engagements could culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), subject to the necessary consultations, approvals, and due processes.
Ambassador Dambazau has emphasized the broader strategic value of moving towards local industrial capacity. While the ultimate objective is to establish an industry capable of producing equipment locally from the ground up, an initial assembly operation could provide an important foundation for developing the necessary industrial infrastructure, technical expertise, skilled manpower, technology transfer, and training opportunities.
Such a development could also create employment opportunities for Nigerian youth and strengthen the country's domestic industrial ecosystem, while positioning Nigeria to serve not only its own growing security and defence needs but potentially emerging markets across the wider African region, subject to applicable laws, regulations, and government approvals.
The ongoing engagement underscores Ambassador Dambazau's broader commitment to ensuring that Nigeria–China relations evolve from traditional trade and supply arrangements towards deeper industrial partnerships that build local capacity and create lasting economic value for Nigeria.
The discussions between NORINCO and Biswakarma Enterprise Nigeria Limited are ongoing, with both parties continuing consultations towards determining the appropriate framework for cooperation.
The Embassy remains committed to supporting constructive engagements that align with Nigeria's national interests and strengthen bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China.
Media Unit
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Beijing.
