Qatar's Barzan, UK deepen defence ties with Nigeria at first AFRIDEX in Lagos
- Qatar's Barzan Holdings used AFRIDEX 2026 in Lagos to discuss weapons, drones and technology partnerships with Nigerian defence officials.
- The UK sent a defence delegation to the same exhibition, pledging long-term support for stronger Nigerian institutions.
- The four-day event, sponsored by Barzan and organised by DICON with DMG Events, ends at Eko Atlantic City.
Nigeria's push to modernise its military and build weapons at home took centre stage in Lagos this week, as Qatar's Barzan Holdings and the United Kingdom both used the first Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) to seek closer defence ties with Abuja.
The event, held at Eko Atlantic City, was organised by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) with British events firm DMG Events. Barzan, Qatar's state-owned defence and security company, was a main sponsor.
Barzan's regional general manager for Africa, Thamer Al Emadi, told Nairametrics that talks with Nigerian defence stakeholders covered equipment supply, technology transfer and industrial partnerships. He said the company is open to solutions tailored to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
On display were the Q1 Corner rifle and the newly launched BIG556 rifles, which Barzan says are designed and made in Qatar. The company's wider catalogue includes drones, unmanned surface vessels and command-and-control systems used for surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Al Emadi also heads DICON-SUR, a joint venture between Qatar's and Nigeria's defence ministries that operates under DICON's supervision. He said that existing venture gives the two countries a base to build on.
What Nigeria stands to gain
Beyond buying hardware, Barzan said it discussed training, maintenance, repairs and technical support. That matters for Nigeria because equipment that cannot be serviced locally often sits idle, and local assembly or maintenance could create technical jobs.
Nigeria has been courting foreign partners to help produce defence equipment at home. In April, DICON signed a memorandum of understanding with the EIB Group to produce unmanned systems, military hardware and digital defence technology locally, according to Nairametrics.
The UK, for its part, used the exhibition to reaffirm its security and defence partnership with Nigeria. Major General John Clarke of the UK Ministry of Defence said in his keynote that security and prosperity depend on each other, adding: "Our ambition is to build enduring relationships that strengthen capability, develop skills, support innovation."
Britain's defence adviser to Nigeria, Brigadier Thomas Harper, said AFRIDEX gave partners an African-led platform to hear priorities and find practical areas of cooperation. "The UK's partnership with Nigeria is built for the long term," he said.
Nigerian officials at the event included DICON Director-General Major General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya and Chief of Defence Intelligence Lieutenant General Emmanuel Akomaye Undiandeye. The British side included Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter and trade commissioner for Africa Alastair Long.
What happens next
No contracts or values were announced on either side, so it is too early to say what Nigeria will buy or produce. The talks point to possible follow-on deals on weapons, drones, training and local manufacturing, but Nigerians will only see the impact if equipment reaches troops and local production creates jobs.
