By Dr. Emmanuel Daudu
Nigeria intensified its push for stronger international defence collaboration as the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H. E. Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, MON, led the country’s delegation to SAHA Expo 2026 in Istanbul, engaging global industry leaders and exploring strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening the nation’s defence capabilities.
The high-level engagement at the global defence and aerospace exhibition underscored Nigeria’s renewed focus on expanding indigenous defence production and deepening international cooperation to enhance the operational readiness of the Armed Forces.
Held from 5th to 9th May 2026, SAHA Expo 2026 attracted more than 1,700 companies, including 263 international firms, alongside over 30,000 defence and aerospace professionals from more than 120 countries.
Dr. Matawalle and members of Nigeria’s delegation participated in the official opening ceremony alongside the Special Guest of Honour, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye; Türkiye’s Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler; and other senior government and industry representatives.
Speaking at the opening, SAHA Expo 2026 Chairman, Haluk Bayraktar, described the exhibition as “a meeting point for minds that will dominate technology.”
As part of Nigeria’s participation, the Minister toured exhibition stands of prospective defence partners, including Nigeria’s indigenous Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), while also holding strategic engagements with key international stakeholders.
Among the notable meetings was an engagement with Vugar Mustafayev, Minister of Defence Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan, focused on expanding defence cooperation and enhancing military capabilities.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.K. Aneke, and centred on advancing the operational capacity of the Armed Forces of Nigeria through strategic partnerships involving DICON and other global defence firms.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s evolving defence strategy, Dr. Matawalle said the country was prioritising long-term industrial cooperation over transactional procurement.
“Nigeria is moving from buying and selling to building solid partnerships with reliable defence partners,” he stated.
Queeneth Iheoma-Hart (CIO) disclosed the development on behalf of the Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Abuja.
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