Qatar’s Barzan Holdings has stated it’s working to deepen defense partnership with Nigeria at the same time as considers alternatives to provide defense gear and develop industrial relationships.
Engineer Thamer Al Emadi, Regional General Manager for Africa at Barzan Holdings and Managing Director of Dicon Sur, disclosed this in an interview with Nairametrics on Tuesday, the primary day of AFRIDEX 2026 at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
According to him, Barzan stated had engaged Nigerian defence stakeholders to focus on attainable industrial, technological and industrial collaborations.
Barzan explores defence offers in Nigeria
Al Emadi stated Barzan Holdings was taking part in AFRIDEX 2026 as a fundamental sponsor to interact Nigerian defence and safety leaders, alongside different regional companions.
The discussions lined potential gear provide, know-how switch and industrial partnerships to assist Nigeria’s defence necessities.
- “We are here at AFRIDEX to discuss Nigeria’s defence needs and explore how Barzan Holdings can support them through the supply of modern defence products and services, as well as potential industrial and technology partnerships,” Al Emadi stated.
He added that the corporate was open to creating options tailor-made to the necessities of the Nigerian Defence Forces.
Dicon Sur, which Al Emadi additionally leads, is a three way partnership between the Ministry of Defence of Qatar and the Ministry of Defence of Nigeria, working below the supervision of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The present three way partnership gives a foundation for cooperation between the 2 nations’ defence institutions, whereas the newest discussions level to attainable further industrial and industrial collaboration.
Weapons, drones characteristic in Barzan talks
At AFRIDEX 2026, Barzan Holdings highlighted merchandise throughout its defence portfolio, together with the Q1 Corner rifle and its just lately launched BIG556 rifles in 4.5-inch and 7-inch configurations. The firm stated the rifles had been designed and manufactured in Qatar.
Its wider portfolio additionally contains unmanned aerial automobiles (UAVs), unmanned floor vessels and command-and-control programs supposed to assist surveillance, intelligence gathering and operational decision-making.
Barzan stated its discussions with Nigerian stakeholders lined 4 areas:
- Weapons and ammunition.
- Advanced know-how.
- Platforms.
- Services, assist and equipment.
Beyond gear provide, the corporate stated it might present coaching, upkeep, restore and overhaul, in addition to technical assist. These providers might kind a part of a broader industrial relationship past the acquisition of defence gear.
Al Emadi stated Barzan’s merchandise had been developed to meet worldwide high quality necessities, together with NATO requirements, and endure testing below totally different environmental circumstances. These embody excessive humidity, tropical circumstances and excessive temperatures, with temperatures in Qatar typically exceeding 50 levels Celsius throughout summer time.
Nigeria expands home defence manufacturing
Nigeria has continued to pursue worldwide defence partnerships to strengthen its safety capabilities, entry army gear and develop home defence manufacturing.
- In April 2026, Nairametrics reported that DICON signed a memorandum of understanding with the EIB Group for the home manufacturing of unmanned programs, army {hardware} and digital defence applied sciences.
The nation has additionally pursued defence-related engagement with worldwide companions, together with the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, involving army help, gear and safety cooperation.
These partnerships mirror Nigeria’s efforts to tackle safety challenges whereas increasing the position of home establishments in producing and sustaining army gear.
