Nigeria aims to domestically manufacture defense equipment, including technology to counter unmanned aerial vehicles

Nigeria is taking significant steps to bolster its domestic defence industry, with plans underway to establish local production lines for a range of military equipment, including armoured vehicles and anti-drone systems.

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This initiative is being driven by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G, in partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems, with the aim of increasing technology transfer, expanding domestic manufacturing capacity, and reducing the country's reliance on imported military hardware.

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According to the Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr Osman Chennar, the partnership will create over 200 jobs and provide employment opportunities for approximately 100 retired military personnel, as announced following a two-day inspection tour of factories and military production facilities in Cairo, Egypt.

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Chennar stated that the partnership is expected to create employment for over 200 workers, in addition to providing opportunities for about 100 retired military personnel, facilitating the transfer of advanced defence technologies to Nigeria.

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The partnership aims to enable Nigeria to manufacture a wider range of military platforms, including the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, Armoured Personnel Carrier cabin, and 120mm manual mortar launcher cabin, among others.

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Other platforms targeted under the partnership include the MRAP-Buffalo U.10 and M.12 armoured vehicles, MRAP-Buffalo F-4, Rhino Guard GXR anti-drone and RPG-protected vehicle, and the BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

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Chennar noted that the development is part of a broader strategy to build a sustainable Nigerian defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of designing, assembling, and producing military equipment locally.

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The Nigerian Army is already receiving locally manufactured armoured vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen indigenous defence production and enhance operational capacity, with DICON-D7G planning to take this further.

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Beyond vehicle manufacturing, DICON-D7G is also planning the development of a dedicated military jetty in Lagos to support the movement of raw materials, components, and finished military equipment, serving as a strategic logistics hub.

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Chennar disclosed that the military jetty is expected to be launched within the next two to three months, providing employment to over 200 retired military personnel and over 1,000 civilians when the project takes off.

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The emerging defence-industrial strategy is expected to have significant economic implications, including retaining defence expenditure within the domestic economy, developing specialised technical skills, and reducing Nigeria's reliance on foreign suppliers.

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The planned facilities and production lines will ultimately position Nigeria to sustain its armed forces with locally produced equipment during prolonged security operations, while creating the capacity to serve defence markets across Africa.