Minister seeks collaboration with Canadian govt on defense matters

The Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Salihi (rtd) has urged the Canadian government to assist Nigeria in driving national aspirations and transfer of technology to boost the capabilities of the Defence Industrial Corporation of Nigeria, (DICON) towards looking -inward for the productions of more sophisticated Military weapons and hardwares.

He also restated the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces to the national territorial defence against the Forces fueling insecurity in the country

The Minister stated this when he received the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria on courtesy call at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Abuja, as contained in a statement issued by the Minister’s spokesman, Mohammed AbdulKadri, on Wednesday.

ROYAL NEWS reports that both countries enjoy common Membership of Commonwealth, Global Counter-terrorism Forum and World Trade Organisation while Nigeria established diplomatic relations with Canada two years after her independence in 1960, precisely in 1962.

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.

Magashi said both countries are now reaping the dividends of symbiotic diplomatic ties on win-win basis, listing 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.

The acting High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Nicholas Simard, who assumed duty six months ago 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.