National Security Adviser Pojar confirmed strategic security partnership with Nigeria
01.04.2025 / 14:08 | Aktualizováno: 01.04.2025 / 15:05
Among the largest markets for the Czech defence industry in Africa is undoubtedly the most populous country on the continent, Nigeria. Frequent trade exchange and numerous visits by representatives of the Nigerian armed forces are a demonstration of this. Nevertheless, Czech companies and Nigerian partners perceive that there is still room for further deepening cooperation. This was one of the central themes of the working visit of the Czech National Security Adviser Tomáš Pojar to Nigeria. The trip was a welcome boost to Czech-Nigerian relations in the defence industry. The Nigerian counterparts have made it clear that they consider the Czechs as partners and are very interested in the acquisition, which never completely stops. The positive reactions to the upcoming defence economic diplomacy project - a mission of Czech defence industry representatives to Nigeria in August 2025 - as well as to the invitations to the IDET 2025 defence fair in Brno only underline the shared interest of the armed forces command and the relevant government departments in further strengthening bilateral relations in this area.
Diplomat and security analyst T. Pojar arrived in March 2025 at the invitation of his counterpart, Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Director of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Gen. Adam Garba Laka. In addition to the inviting partners, he also met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa and visited the National Counter Terrorism Centre, whose ambition is to become a regional hub for counter-terrorism and preventing radicalisation of the population.
National Counter Terrorism Centre
The main items in demand were equipment and technology for surveillance of national borders both from the ground and air, civilian and military aircraft, including maintenance services, personal weapons and equipment, ground equipment and vehicles, air and ground force training, drones, as well as expertise and technology transfer. In all of these fields, Czech producers definitely have something to offer.
T. Pojar at the meeting with the Director of National Counter Terrorism Centre, general Laka
T. Pojar highlighted the giants of the Czech defence industry such as Czechoslovak Group, CZUB, Omnipol, Era, Retia or Aero Vodochody. He also pointed out the good collaboration in the field of training, Defcon and Bowenite companies for example, as well as the practical benefits of the acquisition of Czech L-410 aircraft, usable for both civil and military purposes, and the expansion of the air fleet with a new model of the famous Czech trainer and combat aircraft L-39NG Skyfox. The Security Advisor informed the Nigerian partners about the planned Czech defence industry business mission in August 2025. The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. C. G. Musa announced during the meeting his intention to visit the Czech Republic this spring. It would probably be the first ever visit from this level to Prague and would certainly bring new acquisitions of Czech goods.
Tomáš Pojar with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa
T. Pojar's trip confirmed the strategic security partnership with Nigeria and opened the space for negotiations on new specific purchase orders, which hopefully will soon materialize into signed contracts. The visits of Czech state officials are a great contribution to building good relations with the second largest economic partner of our country in sub-Saharan Africa and meaningfully support the activities of domestic companies not only in the defence sector.
Tomáš Pojar talks with the National Security Adviser of Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu
Author: Marie Nwanyanwu, Economic Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Nigeria