When an Italian delegation and one of Europe’s largest defence manufacturers commit to an exhibition months after major aircraft deliveries, it signals more than routine participation — it marks a strategic shift in bilateral defence ties. Italy’s official presence at the upcoming Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos this October, alongside confirmed exhibitor and sponsor Leonardo, comes at a moment when Rome and Abuja are deepening cooperation through active hardware transfers, training programmes, and long-term fleet support.
The Italian involvement follows a period of accelerated defence engagement between the two nations. On 15 September, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) formally received three Leonardo AW-109 Trekker B helicopters in Lagos. These aircraft are part of a larger 10-helicopter procurement, with the remaining seven deliveries scheduled before the close of 2026, according to NAF statements.
That helicopter deal runs parallel to Nigeria’s separate acquisition of 24 M-346 aircraft from Leonardo. Combined, the two programmes mean the Nigerian Air Force is in the process of acquiring 34 Leonardo-built aircraft, creating what defence analysts describe as a significant and growing aerospace link between Nigerian and Italian industry.
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The M-346 programme has already reached key milestones. The first three fighter-attack variants — designated NAF 01, NAF 02 and NAF 03 — completed Factory Acceptance Testing at Leonardo’s Venegono facility in Italy between 29 June and 9 July 2026. The aircraft satisfied all contractual, technical and airworthiness requirements, clearing them for physical delivery to Nigeria.
But the scope of cooperation extends well beyond aircraft handovers. During the M-346 acceptance process, Nigerian officials engaged Leonardo in discussions covering pilot and maintenance training, logistics support, and long-term fleet sustainment. Simulator and ground-based training packages were also on the table, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous technical and operational capabilities.
The Nigerian Air Force has previously indicated that Leonardo’s support arrangements for the M-346 fleet will span a minimum of 25 years. Moreover, NAF leadership has proposed establishing a Leonardo maintenance hub within Nigeria, part of broader talks around in-country sustainment and long-term industrial capacity.
Leonardo’s footprint in Nigeria is not new. Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has noted the company’s decades-long collaboration in Nigeria’s defence sector, while the two countries have maintained formal military-to-military engagement through bilateral staff talks and other institutional channels.
Against this backdrop, the arrival of an Official Delegation from Italy and Leonardo at AFRIDEX will bring that wider relationship into a structured defence and security forum in Lagos — at precisely the moment Nigeria is navigating aircraft delivery, training, and sustainment milestones across multiple programmes.
Odiri Umusu, Portfolio Director for the Africa International Defence Exhibition, said: “Italy’s participation at AFRIDEX comes at a particularly relevant point in the defence relationship between Italy and Nigeria. Nigeria is progressing through delivery, training and sustainment milestones across major Leonardo aircraft programmes, while the presence of an Official Delegation from Italy creates an important opportunity for wider government-to-government and industry engagement.”
Umusu added: “AFRIDEX has been established to support structured defence and security cooperation around capability requirements, training, long-term readiness, technical capacity, industrial support and credible government-industry dialogue. We are pleased to welcome the Official Delegation from Italy and Leonardo to Lagos and to provide a platform for engagement with defence and security stakeholders from Nigeria, across Africa and international partner markets.”
The exhibition, scheduled for 26 to 29 October 2026 at Eko Atlantic in Lagos, will bring together senior military leaders, government representatives, capability planners, and defence and security organisations spanning Land, Maritime, Air, Cyber and Space domains. Hosted by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and held under the patronage of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, AFRIDEX aims to foster structured cooperation between governments, armed forces and industry — with emphasis on capability development, protection, resilience, readiness and long-term industrial capacity.
The participation of Italy’s Official Delegation and Leonardo therefore does not occur in a vacuum. It is anchored to a tangible programme of current bilateral engagement: Italian-built helicopters already delivered to Nigeria, next-generation fighter jets cleared for induction, and ongoing collaboration around training, logistics and decades-long fleet sustainment.
Why it matters: Italy’s deepening defence relationship with Nigeria — spanning aircraft deliveries, multi-decade support contracts, and now a high-profile exhibition presence — reflects a broader trend of European defence firms seeking long-term industrial partnerships in Africa. For Nigeria, these deals promise not only hardware but also the transfer of technical expertise and in-country maintenance capacity, which could reshape its domestic defence industrial base for years to come.
Abigail Singleton
Singleton PR
