By Saminu Ibrahim
The Nigerian Navy and Türkiye have renewed efforts to deepen defence-industrial cooperation, with a focus on naval shipbuilding, technology transfer and local production.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, made this known on Thursday when he received the Deputy Secretary of Defence Industries of Türkiye, Mr Gökhan Uçar, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting explored practical opportunities in naval shipbuilding, defence technology, technology transfer, local production and capacity development.
Abbas emphasised the need to strengthen Nigeria’s indigenous shipbuilding capacity as part of efforts to modernise the Nigerian Navy’s fleet.
He stressed that mutually beneficial partnerships, sustained engagement and firm contractual commitments were essential to building credible and enduring defence-industrial cooperation.
The Chief of the Naval Staff also called for partnerships that would promote greater localisation, skills development, maintenance capability and long-term technological value for Nigeria.
According to him, the engagement was aimed at advancing joint production, research and development, maintenance and technical capacity within Nigeria’s maritime defence sector.
The visit builds on existing Nigeria–Türkiye defence cooperation and underscores both countries’ interest in strengthening industrial partnerships to enhance Nigeria’s naval capabilities.
The Navy said the engagement would contribute to the development of a more modern, self-reliant and operationally effective fleet.
