The former Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Retired Major-General Victor Ezugwu, has commended the organisers of NISECEXPO-DICON for driving efforts to strengthen Africa’s defence production capacity to confront emerging security threats.
He gave the commendation during the closing ceremony of the international defence and security exhibition in Abuja.
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Ezugwu said the expo created a vital platform for African nations to collaborate, share ideas, and prepare for future conflicts that were becoming increasingly complex and driven by rapidly evolving technologies and non-state actors.
He stressed the need for a strong and well-structured defence manufacturing system across the continent.
Ezugwu noted that participants and experts from Nigeria, other African countries, Israel, and Ukraine presented practical solutions that could enhance defence readiness.
According to him, Nigerian defence industries, including DICON and IPAL, gained valuable exposure to modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones, which were now essential to contemporary warfare.
The retired senior officer expressed optimism that Nigeria’s defence sector would be significantly stronger within the next two years.
He said, “This is largely due to renewed political will demonstrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who recently signed the amended DICON Act after years of delay”.
Ezugwu applauded the new Minister of Defence and urged defence institutions to focus on local production, especially at DICON’s Kauri facility, to provide the Armed Forces with the equipment they urgently needed.
He stressed that the era of rhetoric was over, adding that Nigeria must now fully shift to a result-driven phase of defence manufacturing to meet national and regional operational demands.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria International Security Conference and Exhibition (NISEC), Frank Ohwof said “the Nigerian Armed Forces are undergoing a major transformation from traditional war fighting strategies to technology-driven security operations”.
He noted that the military of today was vastly different from what it was a decade ago, particularly in its approach to emerging asymmetric threats.
Ohwof explained that adapting to new operational requirements took time due to natural resistance to change within organisations.
However, he expressed confidence that Nigeria’s military and security agencies now had a stronger understanding of modern warfare dynamics and the need for technological advancement to stay ahead of adversaries.
He stressed that criminals and terrorists were becoming smarter, more educated, and technologically sophisticated, making it essential for law enforcement forces to match or exceed their capabilities. “Technology is no longer an option, it is a compulsory component of national security,” he stated.
On translating ideas from the expo into actionable outcomes, Ohwof affirmed that the DG of DICON was fully committed to ensuring that innovations showcased at the event led to real improvements.
He said “the amended 2023 DICON Act has given the corporation the legal authority it needs to deepen defence production, encourage private sector investment, and boost local manufacturing capacity for improved operational performance”.
He described NISECEXPO as a forward-thinking initiative that united academia, scientists, inventors, and security stakeholders to address shared regional threats.
He added that collaboration with experts in disaster response and medicine enhanced the ability of military and civilian responders to save lives and safeguard communities during conflicts or emergencies, further strengthening Nigeria’s overall security framework.
Professor Roberto Mugavero of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine added that NISECEXPO provided a vital opportunity for civil-military cooperation, linking defence industries with research institutions to develop innovative solutions that could address shared global security challenges.
The 2025 NISECEXPO-DICON is an international security conference and exhibition jointly organised by the Nigeria International Security Conference and Exhibition (NISEC) and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
PIAK