Nigeria is making significant strides in the arms trade, with several African countries now turning to Nigeria for advanced military equipment.
Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, announced this development during a press conference marking the 60th anniversary of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the inaugural Africa Defence Industries Conference and Exhibition.
Matawalle highlighted the progress made under the new leadership of DICON and the Ministry of Defence, emphasizing that Nigerian-made weaponry is gaining recognition across the continent.
The Minister noted that this advancement could have multiple benefits for Nigeria, including boosting foreign exchange earnings, creating job opportunities for skilled Nigerians, and reducing capital flight.
The press conference also served as a celebration of DICON’s 60 years of service in producing and repairing military hardware. Established in 1964, DICON has evolved from producing small arms and ammunition to manufacturing a range of military equipment, including vehicles and artillery. Despite facing numerous challenges over the years, DICON has remained committed to advancing Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence production.
Matawalle stressed that the new DICON Act 2023 is set to further enhance the corporation’s role in Nigeria’s defence sector. This legislation aims to improve DICON’s capabilities and encourage more investment, particularly from indigenous sources.
The Africa Defence Industries Conference and Exhibition, which began on August 12 and runs until August 15, has attracted over 150 foreign exhibitors. These participants will showcase their skills and capabilities in military technology. The conference is a significant event for Nigeria, underlining the country’s growing influence in the global defence industry.
Matawalle expressed enthusiasm about the exhibition, noting that it reflects the seriousness of the Ministry of Defence and the revamped DICON under the current administration. He mentioned that the event is a platform to change the narrative around DICON, which has historically been criticized for relying on foreign equipment and ammunition.
During his remarks, Matawalle addressed concerns about DICON’s past reliance on foreign military supplies. He stated that the new leadership has been working diligently to enhance DICON’s production capabilities.
He said: “ We want to change the narrative of DICON. Many people have been asking me that at 60 years old, what has DICON done? What are we doing? That we are buying foreign equipment, foreign ammunition and other armaments that DICON cannot yet produce.
“But when we assume the mantle of the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, we have been going up and down to ensure that DICON stand on its feet and to ensure the capacity and the capability of DICON so that we can be able to produce our own armaments; so that we can bring more investors, particularly the indigenous investors, so that we should give them the right to do as it is happening around the world.
“Now, most of the countries (African), not just the government, are partnering with this indigenous defence industry for the production of high tech military hardware.
“Therefore, DICON is entirely a new DICON, and we assure you within a short time you will see the capability of DICON, and what it can be able to produce.
“We cannot be able to inform the public everything about our capability or capacity for security reasons. But we assure you that we have the capacity, we have the capability to produce and as you know, many countries, many African countries now are coming to DICON for the procurement of their arms and ammunition.”
He assured that DICON now has the capacity to produce high-tech military hardware, although some details are kept confidential for security reasons. The Minister indicated that many African nations are now seeking arms and ammunition from DICON, reflecting the growing trust in Nigeria’s defence production capabilities.
Matawalle also outlined the broader benefits of DICON’s advancements for Nigeria. He highlighted that increasing local production of military equipment could lead to significant economic gains, such as improved foreign exchange earnings and job creation. Furthermore, it would help reduce the country’s reliance on foreign suppliers and mitigate capital flight.
The Minister’s remarks come as Nigeria continues to focus on enhancing its national security and economic stability through local production and innovation in the defence sector. The new DICON Act and the successful hosting of the Africa Defence Industries Conference are steps towards solidifying Nigeria’s position as a key player in the African arms market.
