Nigeria is set to commence local production of armoured vehicles, anti-drone platforms and other specialised military equipment as part of efforts to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G), Osman Chennar, disclosed this while discussing the outcome of a two-day inspection tour of factories and military production facilities in Cairo, Egypt.
The inspection was conducted by a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, as part of efforts to identify technologies and production systems that could support the country’s growing defence manufacturing ambitions.
Chennar said the initiative, being pursued in partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems, would facilitate technology transfer, expand Nigeria’s domestic manufacturing capacity and create employment opportunities.
According to him, the partnership is expected to create jobs for more than 200 workers, while providing employment opportunities for about 100 retired military personnel.
He said the arrangement would enable Nigeria to acquire advanced defence technologies and gradually develop the capacity to manufacture a wider range of military platforms locally, with the possibility of exporting some of the equipment to other African countries in the future.
Among the platforms being considered are the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, a modular multi-mission defence platform, as well as armoured personnel carrier cabins, a 120mm manual mortar launcher cabin and medical evacuation and ambulance cabins.
Other platforms include the MRAP-Buffalo U.10 and M.12, MRAP-Buffalo F-4, Rhino Guard GXR anti-drone and RPG-protected vehicle, APC Moon PT6, GXR Phantom light vehicle and BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
The development comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to reduce its dependence on imported military equipment amid persistent security challenges across the country.
Chennar also disclosed that the Nigerian Army had begun receiving locally manufactured armoured vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen its operational capacity and promote domestic defence production.
The DICON-D7G chief executive further revealed plans to develop a dedicated military jetty in Lagos to strengthen the logistics chain supporting local defence manufacturing.
He said the facility would facilitate the movement of raw materials, components and finished military equipment, while serving as a strategic distribution hub for defence products within Nigeria and potentially across Africa.
According to Chennar, construction of the jetty is expected to commence in about two months.
When fully operational, the facility could provide employment for more than 200 retired military personnel and over 1,000 civilians.
The initiatives form part of broader efforts to build Nigeria’s domestic defence-industrial base, strengthen technology transfer and improve the country’s capacity to produce military equipment locally.
