Nigeria is intensifying efforts to develop 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, with the aim of transferring advanced technology, expanding domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on imported military hardware.
The Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Osman Chennar, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday 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 partnership was expected to create more than 200 jobs, while also providing employment opportunities for approximately 100 retired military personnel.
“The partnership is expected to create employment for over 200 workers, in addition to providing opportunities for approximately 100 retired military personnel.”
He said the collaboration would facilitate the transfer of advanced defence technologies to Nigeria and expand the country’s capacity to manufacture military platforms for its armed forces and potentially other African countries.
Equipment targeted under the partnership includes the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, Armoured Personnel Carrier cabin, 120mm manual mortar launcher cabin, and medical evacuation and ambulance cabins.
Other platforms listed by Chennar 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.
According to him, the project forms part of a broader strategy to establish a sustainable Nigerian defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of designing, assembling and producing military equipment locally.
The development comes as the Nigerian Army continues to receive locally manufactured armoured vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen indigenous defence production and improve operational capacity.
