The Federal Government has stated its commitment to transform the country from a consumer into a proud producer of defence hardware by leveraging on local capacity, talent and resources.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, made the statement during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development in Abuja on Monday.
The event signalled the long awaited partnership between the agencies of the two ministries – the Defence Industrial Corporation 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,” Matawalle said the partnership symbolised 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.
He said: “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.”
He added that the partnership reaffirms President Tinubu’s directive that “we must rely on ourselves, build our own capacity, and secure our nation through innovation.”
On his part, the 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 realisation of Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
Audu emphasised that the collaboration between both ministries reflects the government’s determination to revitalize strategic national assets for innovation and also enhance the nation’s security architecture through local industrial capacity.
The high point of the event was the signing of the MoU.
The ministers commended the 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.
