The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has been officially invited by the Republic of Azerbaijan for a high-level diplomatic visit.
This invitation was extended by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence Industry, Mr Vugar Mustafayev, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations.
According to a statement released by Matawalle’s media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, the visit centres on collaboration in defence production and the transfer of military technology.
During his visit to Azerbaijan, Matawalle held a strategic meeting on 17 July 2025 with the leadership of Improtex Industries in the capital city, Baku.
He was received by Mr Fizuli Alakbarov, President of Improtex, and was given a comprehensive tour of the company’s advanced defence manufacturing lines.
The Nigerian minister inspected cutting-edge military equipment including Mine Sweepers, Multi-Role Armoured Personnel Carriers (MRAPs), firefighting vehicles, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Improtex, established in 1991, has become a global force in producing tactical vehicles and battlefield support systems.
The visit marks a significant step in Nigeria’s ambition to modernise its defence industry through international collaboration.