The Nigerian Army has taken delivery of 15 locally manufactured Vanquisher Light Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) from the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). An APC is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones.
The delivery is part of efforts to enhance operational readiness and promote indigenous defence production.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, who spoke at the handover ceremony in Kaduna, described the event as a milestone in the advancement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and a reflection of Nigeria’s growing defence manufacturing capacity.
General Shu’aibu, who was represented by Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Bamidele Alabi, said the handover symbolised not just the transfer of equipment but also concrete evidence of expanding local capacity in the production of critical military hardware.
He said the development aligned with his command’s philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of operating effectively in joint and multiagency environments.
According to him, his leadership is anchored on four pillars: professional excellence, robust administration, operational readiness and strategic cooperation driven by exemplary leadership.
The army chief noted that the newly delivered vehicles would enhance troop survivability, manoeuvrability and mission effectiveness across various theatres of operation.
He added that earlier batches of the vehicles had undergone operational testing and were found to be reliable, prompting the directive to produce additional units for immediate deployment.
In his remarks, the Director General of DICON, Major General Babatunde Alaya, said the handover marked a significant step towards defence self-reliance.
Alaya disclosed that the 15 APCs were part of 20 locally-produced ballistic-protected platforms manufactured in collaboration with Vanquish Industries Limited and the Command Engineering Depot.
He said the vehicles were designed to suit Nigeria’s operational environment and configured for multiple missions, including troop transportation, convoy escort, reconnaissance and internal security operations.
