Nigeria’s Ministries of Defence and Steel Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on local production of military hardwares with Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle saying that Nigeria would soon transform from a consumer of defence hardware into a proud producer of the same.
Matawalle, who spoke in Abuja during the signing of the MOU on Monday, said it is “a historic step geared towards self-reliance,” adding that this will be achieved through leveraging on local capacity, talent and resources.
A statement by the Ministry of Defence said “the event signalled the long awaited partnership between the Agencies of the two ministries – the Defence Industrial Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.”
Describing the collaboration as “a bold and visionary move that aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Dr. Matawalle, said that the partnership symbolized a turning point in Nigeria’s industrial and defence history, as it seeks to bridge the gap between resource availability and technological application in military production.
In his words: “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” adding that the partnership reaffirms Mr. President’s directive that we must rely on ourselves, build our own capacity, and secure our nation through innovation.
On his part, Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Audu Abubakar, informed that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex which was once seen as a dormant national asset is now being repositioned as a vital contributor to national security and industrial growth, adding that the agreement being signed will position Ajaokuta’s engineering workshops to be used for the production of helmets, vests, bullets, and rifles.
He disclosed that a portion of land would be allocated for the construction of a Military-Industrial Complex which will be a major step toward the realization of Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
Speaking further, Dr Audu emphasized that the collaboration between both ministries reflects the Federal Government’s determination to revitalize strategic national assets for innovation and also enhance the nation’s security architecture through local industrial capacity.
According to the statement, “the high point of the event was the signing of the MoU. The Ministers commended Mr. President for his foresight and leadership in promoting synergy between ministries to deliver on national security objectives through indigenous solutions, and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the signed agreements are effectively implemented, thereby paving the way for sustainable defence production and industrial development in Nigeria.”
