- Nigeria plans to expand local production of military equipment
- DICON-D7G expects the initiative to create thousands of jobs and boost technology transfer
- The project will focus on armoured vehicles, anti-drone systems
Nigeria is taking steps to deepen domestic production of military equipment as authorities work towards reducing the country’s reliance on imported defence hardware.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that under a proposed partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria-D7G and Eagles International for Defence Systems, local facilities are expected to be developed for the production of armoured vehicles, anti-drone platforms and other specialised equipment.
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The Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Osman Chennar, announced the development after a delegation led by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, inspected defence manufacturing facilities in Cairo, Egypt.
Chennar said the project would not only improve Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capabilities but also create employment. He put the expected job opportunities at more than 200 for Nigerians, alongside positions for about 100 retired military personnel.
The partnership is also expected to give Nigeria access to advanced manufacturing expertise and technology, allowing local engineers and technicians to produce a broader range of equipment for the Nigerian military and potentially other African countries.
Among the military platforms being considered for local production are the BR6 Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle, Armoured Personnel Carrier cabins, 120mm mortar launcher cabins, medical evacuation units and ambulance cabins.
The planned production programme also covers MRAP-Buffalo U.10 and M.12 vehicles, MRAP-Buffalo F-4, Rhino Guard GXR vehicles with anti-drone and RPG protection, APC Moon PT6, GXR Phantom light vehicles and BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
Chennar explained that the project was part of a broader effort to establish a domestic defence industry capable of handling different stages of military equipment production, from design and assembly to full-scale manufacturing.
The move comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Army to increase its use of locally manufactured armoured vehicles and strengthen its operational readiness.
As part of the wider expansion, DICON-D7G is also developing plans for a military jetty in Lagos. The facility is expected to support the transportation of military components, raw materials and completed equipment.
The proposed jetty is expected to become an important logistics point for moving defence equipment within Nigeria and to markets across Africa. Chennar said its launch could take place within the next two to three months.
He added that the project could eventually employ more than 200 former military personnel and over 1,000 civilians.
Beyond military applications, the expansion of domestic defence manufacturing could help retain more defence-related spending within the Nigerian economy, build technical expertise and reduce exposure to foreign supply chains.
The initiative is ultimately aimed at giving Nigeria greater capacity to equip and sustain its armed forces locally, while creating an industrial base capable of supplying defence equipment to other African countries.
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