By Sandra Kenneth
In a major push toward military self-reliance, Nigeria has announced plans to set up local manufacturing lines for anti-drone systems, armoured vehicles, and other specialised combat gear.
The initiative is a joint venture between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G) and Eagles International for Defence Systems. The partnership aims to accelerate technology transfer, expand domestic production capacity, and curb the country’s reliance on foreign military imports.
The announcement was made by DICON-D7G Chief Executive Officer Osman Chennar following a two-day inspection of military production facilities in Cairo, Egypt, led by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Under the new agreement, Nigeria will manufacture a broad array of military equipment, including:
Armoured & Tactical Vehicles: Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, MRAP-Buffalo (U.10, M.12, and F-4 variants), APC Moon PT6, GXR Phantom light vehicles, and BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
Specialised Cabins: Medical evacuation, ambulance, 120mm manual mortar launcher, and Armoured Personnel Carrier cabins.
Defensive Systems: Rhino Guard GXR anti-drone and RPG-protected vehicles.
Beyond meeting internal security needs, the expanded production line is expected to position Nigeria as a regional defence hardware supplier for other African nations.
Job Creation and Strategic Logistics
The project is slated to generate over 200 civilian jobs and provide employment for approximately 100 retired military personnel.
To support the manufacturing pipeline, DICON-D7G is also preparing to launch a dedicated military jetty in Lagos within the next two to three months. Serving as a primary logistics hub for raw materials, components, and finished equipment, the jetty project is projected to create more than 1,000 civilian jobs alongside positions for 200 military retirees.
Officials emphasize that retaining defence expenditure within the domestic economy will develop specialized technical expertise and ensure long-term sustainability for the Nigerian Armed Forces during extended security operations.
