In a major development for the country’s defense capabilities, the Nigerian government has announced plans to begin local production of military equipment. This comes after President Bola Tinubu recently signed the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill into law.
According to the Minister of Defense, Muhammad Badaru, the government has been in talks with around 50 local and international firms to facilitate domestic production of firearms and other military hardware. Notably, 13 of these companies have already commenced or are on the verge of starting production within Nigeria.
“With the help of the bill, Nigeria has been discussing with over 50 private companies, both within and abroad, in the area of production of weapons and other military equipment,” Badaru stated during a Ministerial Sectorial Update in Abuja on Thursday.
The minister touted this move as a significant step forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and insecurity. He revealed that over the past year, the military has neutralized more than 9,300 insurgents and arrested 7,000 others. Additionally, 4,641 kidnapped victims were rescued, and 4,882 assorted weapons along with 83,900 rounds of ammunition were recovered.
Badaru attributed these achievements to the close collaboration and synergy among the Service Chiefs under President Tinubu’s administration, in contrast to the past. He also highlighted the military’s efforts to boost oil production, leading to the arrest of 1,437 suspects and the neutralization of 363 others in the Niger Delta region.
The minister emphasized that President Tinubu has been eager to see an end to the country’s security challenges, with the recruitment of more personnel and the full deployment of technology being prioritized to combat insurgency.
This move towards local military production is poised to enhance Nigeria’s self-reliance in defense matters and bolster its capabilities to address the ongoing security threats within its borders.
