The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting indigenous defence companies, while emphasising the need for sustained product quality, integrity checks and operational excellence in export contracts.
During familiarisation visits on 28 January, to Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPRIL) and Proforce Group Limited in Ogun State, Mr Pheelangwa highlighted the critical contributions of these companies to Nigeria’s security architecture and the wider African defence sector.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence, the Permanent Secretary commended EPRIL for producing viable and durable military operational tools for the Nigerian military and international clients, while urging continuous collaboration with the ministry to ensure quality standards and integrity checks for exports.
He noted that since assuming office, the ministry has facilitated processes such as obtaining End-User Certificates, tax exemptions from the Federal Ministry of Finance and customs support to ease the importation of raw materials necessary for defence production.
Similarly, the visit to Proforce Group Limited, Nigeria’s first indigenous contractor specialising in armoured vehicles and security systems, recognised the company’s growth and ongoing contributions to military operations.
The Permanent Secretary reaffirmed government support for ongoing projects and called for continuous collaboration to maintain high-quality production standards.
The Managing Directors of both companies, Mr Kola Balogun (EPRIL) and Ade Ogundeyin (Proforce), expressed appreciation for the ministry’s support and pledged sustained collaboration in all operational initiatives.
These engagements signal the ministry’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous defence capacity, enhancing export credibility and reinforcing strategic partnerships within the national and regional security architecture.