Nigeria is intensifying efforts to strengthen its indigenous defence industry with plans to establish local production lines for armoured vehicles, anti-drone systems and other specialised military equipment.

The initiative is being driven by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G), in partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems, for the purpose of increasing technology transfer, expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and reducing the country’s dependence on imported military hardware.

Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr Osman Chennar, disclosed this in a statement, following a two-day tour of factories and military production facilities in Cairo, by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and his delegation.

Chennar said the partnership would create more than 200 jobs, while also providing employment opportunities for about 100 retired military personnel.

He said: “The partnership is expected to create employment for over 200 workers, in addition to providing opportunities for approximately 100 retired military personnel.”

According to him, the arrangement will facilitate the transfer of advanced defence technologies to Nigeria and enable the country to manufacture a wider range of military platforms for its armed forces and potentially other African countries.

Among the platforms targeted under the partnership are the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, Armoured Personnel Carrier cabin, 120mm manual mortar launcher cabin, medical evacuation and ambulance cabins.

Others include the MRAP-Buffalo U.10 and M.12 armoured vehicles, 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.

Chennar said the development is part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable Nigerian defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of designing, assembling and producing military equipment locally. (Nigerian Tribune)