India-Nigeria Bilateral Meeting on Defence Collaboration

On 12th August 2025, Raksha Rajya Mantri held a bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence in New Delhi to advance the growing defence partnership between the two nations.

Key Points

Focus Areas: Discussions covered counter-terrorism training, research and development, maritime cooperation, hydrography, anti-piracy measures, and defence industry collaboration.
Indian Defence Capabilities: Minister highlighted advanced platforms such as the Light Combat Aircraft, Light Combat Helicopter, and Offshore Patrol Vessels, offering full support to meet Nigeria’s defence requirements.
Joint R&D Initiatives: India expressed readiness to host a Nigerian Defence Research and Development Bureau team to explore joint projects, while Nigeria invited an Indian delegation to visit its defence industry for potential investments.
Delegation Visit: The Nigerian Minister is leading a delegation to India from August 11–14, engaging with Indian defence industries to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Historical Ties: India and Nigeria have shared strong defence relations since the early 1960s, and as the largest democracies in their respective continents, they are natural partners in strengthening strategic cooperation.