AFRIDEX 2026: Turkey’s Deputy Defence Minister Holds Talks With Nigerian and Italian Military Leaders in Lagos

Turkey’s Deputy Minister of National Defence Musa Heybet held bilateral and delegation-level talks with Nigeria’s top defence officials and Italy’s Chief of Defence Staff at AFRIDEX 2026, the Africa International Defence Exhibition in Lagos, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence (MSB) said on its official X account on 28 October 2026.

Who Heybet met in Lagos

According to the MSB, Heybet held bilateral and inter-delegation meetings with Nigerian Minister of Defence Christopher Gwabin Musa, Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and the chiefs of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy. He also met General Luciano Portolano, Italy’s Chief of Defence Staff, who was attending the show.

The ministry did not disclose the content of the talks or announce any agreements. Heybet also visited the stands of Turkish and international defence firms exhibiting at the event.

A new defence showcase for Africa

AFRIDEX 2026 is the first edition of the exhibition, organised by dmg events in partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and backed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence. The show is being held at Eko Atlantic in Lagos this week.

Organisers had forecast around 500 exhibiting companies, more than 15 international pavilions and visitors from over 100 countries, with live air, land and sea demonstrations and dedicated zones for unmanned systems and special forces equipment.

Turkey’s growing focus on African markets

Turkish officials have increasingly used defence exhibitions and ministerial visits to deepen military and industrial ties across Africa, where the country’s armoured vehicles, naval platforms and unmanned systems compete with offerings from Europe, China and others.

Nigeria, which faces jihadist insurgencies in the north-east, banditry in the north-west and maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea, is one of the continent’s largest defence buyers. High-level contacts on the sidelines of AFRIDEX give Ankara a direct channel to Nigerian decision-makers as Abuja looks to expand both procurement and local production through DICON.

What comes next

No contracts involving Turkish companies were announced by the MSB. Any follow-up agreements between Ankara and Abuja would typically be announced by the defence ministries or the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (SSB).

Featured image: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Fontenette / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons