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Lord Marland, Chairman of CWEIC recently met with His Excellency Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, Permanent Secretary at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Defence at the House of Lords to explore deeper defence cooperation between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The meeting forms part of broader efforts to enhance Commonwealth cooperation and explore opportunities for UK–Nigeria collaboration across security, trade, and economic development.

Ambassador Aduda was in London to advance Nigeria’s strategic defence and diplomatic engagements, and the discussion with Lord Marland underscored the importance of bilateral and Commonwealth partnerships in tackling shared challenges. From maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea to capacity building and institutional exchange, both parties recognised the critical role of cross-border cooperation in today’s global environment.

Ambassador Aduda spotlighted the need to “strengthen defence collaboration between the United Kingdom and Nigeria,” particularly through the revitalisation of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). He emphasised:

“In its current form, DICON possesses significant potential, but it requires a more defined governance and operational structure to attract credible global partners… a restructured DICON, operating within a clearly defined regulatory and commercial framework, will provide the transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence needed to stimulate local innovation and foster international collaboration.”

Lord Marland reaffirmed CWEIC’s longstanding commitment to supporting Nigeria as one of Africa’s largest and most influential economies. He welcomed the Permanent Secretary’s call for deeper engagement and discussed the potential for CWEIC’s extensive Commonwealth network to support greater private sector involvement in infrastructure, defence logistics, and innovation. He remarked that CWEIC: “provides a valuable platform for connecting reputable UK defence and security firms with Nigeria’s strategic defence infrastructure transformation initiatives”.

The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to establish a follow‑up framework that includes roundtable discussions, technical assessments, and business‑to‑business linkages. This is intended to operationalise the discussions and enhance long‑term UK–Nigeria defence industrial cooperation. As Nigeria looks to strengthen its international partnerships, CWEIC remains committed to supporting dialogue and cooperation that contribute to long-term security, prosperity, and resilience across the Commonwealth.