Abuja: For decades, Nigeria relied heavily on foreign countries for weapons, ammunition, armoured vehicles, aircraft components, and other military hardware required to confront its evolving security challenges. While the approach strengthened the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces, it also exposed the country to procurement delays, foreign exchange pressures, export restrictions, and disruptions arising from global supply chain shocks.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, recent geopolitical developments, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in the Middle East, have reinforced the strategic importance of indigenous defence manufacturing as countries increasingly prioritise domestic security needs over exports. Defence experts argue that the debate is no longer whether Nigeria should develop a self-reliant defence industry, but how quickly it can build one capable of meeting national security needs while contributing to economic growth.
At the centre of this ambition is the Defence Indust
ries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), established in 1964 to provide the Armed Forces with locally manufactured military equipment. Although DICON recorded modest achievements in ammunition and military hardware production, decades of inadequate investment, obsolete equipment, weak research capacity, and limited private sector participation slowed its growth. Analysts describe the DICON Act, 2023, as a watershed in Nigeria’s defence industrialisation journey.
The law expands DICON’s mandate by encouraging partnerships with indigenous manufacturers, universities, research institutions, technology firms, and foreign investors to deepen local defence production and technology transfer. A key pillar of the new framework is the Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN), the umbrella body for indigenous defence manufacturers and technology companies. The association is fostering collaboration among government, the Armed Forces, academia, investors, and innovators to build a competitive defence industrial eco
system capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term security objectives.
The Chairman of DIAN and Director-General of DICON, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Alaya, says indigenous defence production is no longer a choice but a strategic imperative. Speaking at a high-level meeting of DIAN members in Abuja, Alaya said developing local capacity had become critical to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and reducing dependence on foreign military hardware. A strong local defence industry will improve the operational readiness of the Armed Forces, ensure timely availability of critical military equipment, and enhance supply chain resilience in support of ongoing security operations.
Alaya said the effective implementation of the DICON Act, 2023, remained central to achieving a self-reliant defence industrial base. The law provides a robust legal and institutional framework for promoting local production, technology transfer, innovation, and private sector participation in defence manufacturing. Alaya urged members to
intensify efforts toward achieving self-sufficiency in military hardware production, stressing that collaboration among government, industry, and regulatory institutions would be vital to building a sustainable defence ecosystem.
He also urged members to leverage the forthcoming African International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) to showcase Nigeria’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities and technological innovations. Alaya described the inauguration as the culmination of a vision to build not only defence equipment but also the human capacity required to power Nigeria’s military-industrial complex. He emphasized that sustainable industrialisation could only be achieved by developing indigenous human capital capable of driving technological advancement.
The renewed drive received further impetus with the inauguration of the DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle. Matawalle described the institute as a deliberate investment by the Federal Governm
ent to achieve self-reliance in defence production and build a robust military-industrial complex. According to him, the institute will provide the technical expertise required to design, develop, and sustain platforms and systems critical to national security.
Industry stakeholders believe that beyond government reforms, private sector participation will determine the pace of Nigeria’s defence industrialisation. The Chairman of Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPAIL), Mr Kola Balogun, believes Nigeria lost valuable decades by failing to maximise DICON’s potential. Balogun said Brazil had evolved into a global producer of helicopters and other defence platforms while Nigeria had yet to fully exploit similar opportunities.
Balogun, who also serves as DIAN General Secretary, said the DICON Act had created a unique opportunity for Nigeria to change course. According to him, the country should focus on strategic partnerships, establish clear licensing frameworks, and deliberately sup
port credible indigenous manufacturers capable of producing arms, ammunition, and other defence technologies. He expressed optimism that with effective implementation of the DICON Act, Nigeria could record significant growth in indigenous defence production within the next decade.
Beyond strengthening national security, experts believe a vibrant defence industry can catalyse industrialisation and technological advancement. Countries with robust defence manufacturing sectors often record technological spillovers into aviation, metallurgy, robotics, electronics, telecommunications, cyber security, and artificial intelligence. Stakeholders agree that developing a viable and self-reliant military industrial complex is not merely a defence objective but a national economic strategy capable of strengthening security, conserving foreign exchange, creating skilled jobs, and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for defence manufacturing.
Experts say the legal and structural foundation is set. With the DICON Act, DI
CON’s coordination, the DICON Institute’s training, and DIAN’s private-sector mobilisation, all Nigeria needs is sustained political will, funding, and execution to shift from importing military hardware to producing defence technology.