FG Aims to End Defence Equipment Imports Within Five Years

The Federal Government has announced plans to end the importation of defence and security equipment, targeting local production of all necessary assets within the next two to five years.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the unveiling of the DICON X-Shield light tactical armoured vehicle and other civilian armoured vehicles manufactured in Nigeria.

Matawalle, represented by the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Major General Babatunde Alaya, stated that the current efforts mark the beginning of a broader strategy toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

“This is just the beginning. We will do more so that we can ensure that all required defence and security equipment are produced locally, and in two to five years’ time there will be no more importation,” he said.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s future defence capabilities will be built domestically through indigenous innovation and partnerships, which will also create skilled jobs, enable technology transfer, conserve foreign exchange, and open export opportunities.

The minister highlighted that DICON was established to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and position Nigeria as a credible producer of military equipment, a goal that requires collaboration with capable private sector partners.

He commended X-Shield for its expertise in vehicle armour and ballistic engineering, describing the company as a key partner in Nigeria’s defence industrialisation drive.

The Chief Executive Officer of X-Shield, Charles Ibanga, stated that the company aims to be a dependable local provider in a growing market for armoured vehicles.

He cited National Bureau of Statistics data showing that in the last quarter of 2023, Nigeria spent over ₦5.06 trillion on imported armoured vehicles significantly more than the ₦1.81 trillion spent on petrol.

This renewed push for local defence manufacturing comes amid ongoing security challenges and concerns over the high costs and vulnerabilities associated with importing military hardware.