Qatar’s defence industry is seeking to deepen its partnership with Nigeria through joint ventures, advanced military technologies and potential business opportunities aimed at addressing emerging security challenges across Africa.
Engineer Thamer Al Emadi, Regional General Manager for Africa at Barzan Holdings and Managing Director of DICON-SUR, disclosed this in an interview at the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026, where he outlined the company’s plans to expand cooperation with the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Al Emadi described DICON-SUR as a joint venture involving Qatar’s Ministry of Defence and Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), expressing satisfaction with the existing partnership between the two countries.
He explained that Barzan Holdings serves as the defence investment and industry arm of Qatar’s Ministry of Defence, with interests spanning small arms, surveillance technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and counter-drone systems.
According to him, the company is exploring potential business opportunities with Nigeria’s military services, although no specific contracts or equipment purchases were confirmed during the interview.
“There is a potential. Other than our joint venture that we are really proud of, we have a lot of potential business opportunities that we are working closely with the different forces in Nigeria,” he said.
Focus on Emerging Security Threats
The Barzan Holdings executive said the company was aware of the security challenges confronting Nigeria and other African countries and was exploring technological solutions to meet the operational needs of the Nigerian military.
He disclosed that the company had received requirements from Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence and was considering appropriate solutions to address them.
Al Emadi expressed confidence that Barzan Holdings’ technologies could support military operations against evolving threats, particularly in areas requiring advanced surveillance, intelligence gathering and counter-drone capabilities.
He, however, stressed that the company’s interest in Nigeria extended beyond the sale of military equipment to establishing a lasting strategic relationship.
“We are not coming here to sell. We are coming here to cooperate,” he said.
“We consider Nigeria as a partner country and a friendly country of ours.”
Barzan Holdings’ product portfolio includes pistols, rifles, UAVs, surveillance drones, interceptors and counter-drone systems, according to Al Emadi.
Such technologies have become increasingly important in modern warfare, particularly for monitoring hostile movements, gathering intelligence, detecting threats and protecting military installations against attacks involving unmanned aircraft.
However, Al Emadi did not identify specific weapon models or confirm whether any of the company’s products had already been acquired by the Nigerian military.
Nigerian Military Services in Focus
The executive identified the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force as key services with which Barzan Holdings hopes to expand its engagement.
He said strengthening cooperation across the services remained a major objective of the company’s participation in AFRIDEX 2026.
The proposed expansion comes as Nigeria continues to confront multiple security challenges and pursues efforts to modernise its armed forces through improved equipment, technological innovation and enhanced operational capabilities.
For Nigeria, deeper engagement with foreign defence companies through local industrial partnerships could also create opportunities to strengthen indigenous manufacturing, develop technical expertise and reduce dependence on imported military equipment.
The extent of these benefits, however, would depend on the projects undertaken, the terms of agreements reached and the level of technology transfer and local participation secured.
DICON-SUR Partnership Offers Industrial Opportunities
A key element of the proposed cooperation is DICON-SUR, the joint venture involving Barzan Holdings and Nigeria’s Defence Industries Corporation.
The partnership provides a framework for defence-industrial collaboration between Nigeria and Qatar, with potential opportunities for local production, technical cooperation and the development of domestic defence capabilities.
Al Emadi indicated that Barzan Holdings was interested in expanding its relationship with Nigeria’s military establishment, positioning the company as a potential long-term partner in the country’s defence modernisation efforts.
Nevertheless, he did not announce any new contracts, specify the value of prospective business deals or confirm the acquisition of particular weapons systems by the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Future cooperation will depend on the outcome of ongoing discussions, the operational requirements of Nigeria’s military services and any agreements subsequently concluded.
His remarks at AFRIDEX 2026 underscore Qatar’s interest in strengthening defence ties with Nigeria at a time when African countries are increasingly seeking advanced technologies and industrial partnerships to respond to evolving security threats.
