Nigeria has stepped up local production of armoured vehicles, anti-drone systems — DICON-D7G

Nigeria is intensifying local production of defence equipment, with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G) advancing the development of production lines for armoured vehicles, anti-drone platforms and other specialised military hardware.

The initiative, being implemented in partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems, is aimed at expanding Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capacity, facilitating technology transfer and reducing reliance on imported military equipment.

The Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr Osman Chennar, disclosed this in a statement following a two-day inspection 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 inspection provided an opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to assess equipment and production systems that could support the country’s expanding defence-industrial programme.

He said the partnership was expected to create more than 200 jobs, while providing employment opportunities for about 100 retired military personnel.

According to him, the collaboration will establish production lines that would facilitate the transfer of advanced defence technologies to Nigeria and strengthen the country’s ability to manufacture equipment required by its armed forces.

He added that the initiative could eventually enable Nigeria to supply defence equipment to other African countries.

The platforms covered under the partnership include the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, a modular multi-mission defence platform; Armoured Personnel Carrier cabin; 120mm manual mortar launcher cabin; and medical evacuation and ambulance cabins.

Others are 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 expansion was consistent with Nigeria’s broader drive to strengthen indigenous defence production and develop the industrial capacity required to support the armed forces.

He said local manufacturing would help reduce dependence on foreign suppliers while retaining a greater portion of defence expenditure within the domestic economy.

He added that the initiative would also support the development of specialised technical skills and create opportunities for Nigerian workers in the defence manufacturing sector.

Chennar also disclosed that DICON-D7G was developing a dedicated military jetty in Lagos as part of efforts to strengthen the logistics infrastructure supporting local defence production.

He said the facility would facilitate the movement of raw materials, components and finished military equipment and serve as a strategic hub for the distribution of defence equipment within Nigeria and potentially across Africa.

According to him, the project is expected to commence within the next two to three months.

He said the jetty would create employment opportunities for more than 200 retired military personnel and over 1,000 civilians when operational.

Chennar said the combined initiatives reflected DICON-D7G’s broader objective of developing a sustainable Nigerian defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of designing, assembling and producing military platforms locally.

He noted that the Nigerian Army had also begun receiving locally manufactured armoured vehicles, describing the development as part of the country’s growing effort to strengthen indigenous capacity to meet its defence and security requirements.