The Nigerian Navy is advancing efforts to strengthen defence-industrial cooperation with Türkiye, with a focus on naval shipbuilding, technology transfer, local production and fleet modernisation.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, stated this on Thursday, August 27, 2026, when he received the Deputy Secretary of Defence Industries of Türkiye, Mr Gökhan Uçar, at Naval Headquarters, Abuja.
The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen Nigeria–Türkiye defence cooperation and develop practical partnerships capable of strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous maritime defence capabilities.
Vice Admiral Abbas stressed the importance of mutually beneficial partnerships backed by sustained engagement and firm contractual commitments, noting that enduring defence-industrial cooperation must deliver tangible value to Nigeria.
He identified greater localisation, skills development, maintenance capability and long-term technological transfer as critical components of any strategic partnership with foreign defence industries.
The engagement also explored opportunities for joint production, research and development, maintenance and technical capacity development within Nigeria’s maritime defence sector.
According to the Nigerian Navy, the discussions are expected to contribute to efforts to strengthen indigenous shipbuilding capabilities while supporting the ongoing modernisation of the Nigerian Navy’s fleet.
The visit further reaffirmed the strategic importance of Nigeria–Türkiye defence-industrial relations in enhancing naval capability and promoting a more modern, self-reliant and operationally effective Nigerian Navy.
The engagement is part of broader efforts by the Nigerian Navy to leverage strategic international partnerships to build local capacity and reduce dependence on foreign platforms and technical expertise.
