Nigeria targets local production of armoured vehicles, anti-drone systems

Nigeria is stepping up efforts to break its longstanding dependence on imported military hardware as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria D7G (DICON-D7G) advances plans to establish local production lines for armoured vehicles, anti-drone platforms and other specialised defence equipment.

The ambitious initiative, being pursued in partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems, is expected to deepen technology transfer, expand Nigeria’s indigenous defence manufacturing capacity, create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s strategic capacity to respond to emerging security threats.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr Osman Chennar, 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.

During the inspection, the Nigerian delegation assessed various defence production systems and platforms being considered as part of efforts to establish and expand local manufacturing capabilities for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Chennar said the partnership would facilitate the transfer of advanced military technologies to Nigeria and create production lines capable of manufacturing a wide range of military platforms locally, with the long-term prospect of positioning the country to export defence equipment to other African nations.

According to him, the initial phase of the collaboration is expected to create employment for more than 200 workers, while providing opportunities for about 100 retired military personnel whose experience and technical expertise could be deployed in the emerging defence-industrial ecosystem.

Among the platforms targeted for local production are the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, a modular multi-mission defence platform; Armoured Personnel Carrier cabins; 120mm manual mortar launcher cabins; and specialised medical evacuation and ambulance cabins.

The proposed production portfolio also includes 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.

The development comes amid Nigeria’s sustained efforts to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing as the country confronts persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other asymmetric threats that have placed enormous demands on the Armed Forces.

Already, the Nigerian Army has begun taking delivery of locally manufactured armoured vehicles, signalling a gradual shift from heavy reliance on foreign procurement towards the development of a domestic defence production chain capable of supporting military operations.

Beyond the manufacture of military platforms, DICON-D7G is also planning the development of a dedicated military jetty in Lagos to strengthen the logistics backbone of Nigeria’s emerging defence industrial complex.

Chennar said the proposed facility would serve as a strategic logistics and distribution hub for the movement of raw materials, components and finished military equipment within Nigeria and potentially across the African continent. He added that the military jetty is expected to create employment for more than 200 retired military personnel and over 1,000 civilians when the project becomes operational.

The planned expansion of indigenous defence production is expected to have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy and national security, including reducing exposure to foreign supply disruptions, retaining defence expenditure within the domestic economy, developing specialised technical manpower and building industrial capacity capable of sustaining the military during prolonged security operations.

The DICON-D7G and Eagles International partnership is therefore being positioned as more than an equipment procurement arrangement, but as a strategic attempt to build a sustainable Nigerian defence-industrial ecosystem capable of designing, assembling, manufacturing and maintaining critical military platforms while eventually competing for a share of the expanding African defence market.