The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the nation from a consumer of defence hardware into a proud producer by leveraging local capacity, talent, and resources.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, made the declaration during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development at Ship House, Abuja.
The event marked the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
Dr. Matawalle described the collaboration as “a bold and visionary move that aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He noted that the partnership represents a major turning point in Nigeria’s industrial and defence evolution, aimed at bridging the gap between resource availability and technological innovation in military production.
He stated that, “For too long, Nigeria has depended on foreign nations for essential defence equipment, yet we have all it takes, the raw materials, the human capital, and the expertise to manufacture these products locally.”
The Minister stressed that the partnership reinforces President Tinubu’s directive that Nigeria must rely on its own capacity, build internal competence, and secure the nation through innovation.
The Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Audu Abubakar, announced that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, once seen as a dormant national asset, is now being repositioned as a vital contributor to national security and industrial growth.
He explained that “the agreement will enable Ajaokuta’s engineering workshops to produce helmets, vests, bullets, and rifles, while a portion of land will be allocated for the construction of a Military-Industrial Complex to drive the nation’s defence industrial base.
Dr. Audu further emphasised that the collaboration demonstrates the Nigerian Government’s determination to revive strategic national assets for innovation and strengthen the country’s security framework through indigenous industrial capacity.
The event ended with the formal signing of the MoU, as both ministers commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight and leadership in promoting inter-ministerial synergy to advance national security through homegrown solutions.
They both reaffirmed their commitment to ensure full implementation of the agreement toward sustainable defence production and industrial development in Nigeria.
Olusola Akintonde