The Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, has engaged the deputy secretary of defence industries of Türkiye, Gökhan Uçar, to deepen Nigeria–Türkiye defence-industrial cooperation.

The director of naval information, Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

According to Mr Folorunsho, the engagement focuses on practical opportunities in naval shipbuilding, defence technology, technology transfer, local production and capacity development.

He said it would lay particular emphasis on strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and supporting the Nigerian Navy’s fleet modernisation efforts.

“The engagement builds on ongoing Nigeria–Türkiye defence cooperation and explores opportunities to advance localisation, joint production, research and development.

“It also seems to provide maintenance and technical capacity development within Nigeria’s maritime defence sector,” he said.

In the statement, Mr Abbas stressed the importance of mutually beneficial partnerships, sustained engagement and firm contractual commitments in building credible and enduring defence-industrial cooperation.

He also underscored the need for partnerships that deliver greater localisation, skills development, maintenance capability and long-term technological value to Nigeria.

The engagement reaffirmed the importance of strategic industrial partnerships in strengthening naval capability and advancing the Nigerian Navy’s efforts toward a more modern, self-reliant and operationally effective fleet.

(NAN)