The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (retd), has appealed to Canada to assist Nigeria in local productions of sophisticated military weapons and hardwares through transfer of technology from Canada to boost the capabilities of the Defence Industrial Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
Magashi also restated the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces to national territorial defence against the forces fueling insecurity in the country.
According to a statement by Special Assistant to the minister on Media and Publicity Mohammad Abdulkadri, the minister stated this Wednesday, when he received the Canadian high Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria Nicholas Simard on courtesy call at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters Abuja.
While lauding the decades of military bilateral cooperations between Nigeria and Canada, he said the ties progressively and sustenably culminated into the formation of the Bi- National Commission in April 2012.
General Magashi said both countries are now reaping the dividends of symbiotic diplomatic ties on win-win basis.
He listed the areas of common concerns to end violent extremism in the country and the supports of Canada to entrenching stable, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria as parts of the diplomatic gains.
Speaking, Simard described Nigeria as a strategic partner with Canada especially in thematic areas of combating insecurity, Joint Military trainings and advocacy for protection of human rights.
