Nigeria is intensifying efforts to reduce reliance on imported military hardware as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON-D7G) advances plans to establish domestic production lines for armoured vehicles, anti-drone platforms, and other specialised defence equipment.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems, aims to boost technology transfer, expand indigenous defence manufacturing, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s ability to respond to evolving security threats.
Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Osman Chennar, disclosed the plan after a two-day inspection of defence factories in Cairo by Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and his delegation.
Chennar explained that the collaboration would enable Nigeria to manufacture a wide range of military platforms locally, with long-term prospects of exporting defence equipment to other African nations.
The initial phase is expected to employ over 200 workers and engage about 100 retired military personnel whose expertise will support the new defence-industrial ecosystem.
Among the platforms targeted for production are the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, MRAP Buffalo U.10 and M.12, Rhino Guard GXR anti-drone vehicle, APC Moon PT6, BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and specialised medical evacuation cabins.
The move comes as Nigeria grapples with persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, which have placed heavy demands on the Armed Forces.
Already, the Nigerian Army has begun receiving locally manufactured armoured vehicles, signalling a gradual shift from foreign procurement to domestic production.
Beyond vehicles, DICON-D7G also plans to build a dedicated military jetty in Lagos to serve as a logistics hub for raw materials and finished equipment.
The facility is projected to create jobs for over 200 retired military personnel and more than 1,000 civilians.
Officials say the expansion of indigenous defence production will reduce exposure to foreign supply disruptions, retain defence spending within Nigeria, and build industrial capacity capable of sustaining prolonged military operations.
The DICON-D7G and Eagles International partnership is being positioned not just as procurement, but as a strategic step toward a sustainable Nigerian defence-industrial ecosystem that can design, assemble, and maintain critical platforms while competing in the African defence market.
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