The Federal Government has announced plans to halt the importation of defence equipment within the next two to five years as part of efforts to strengthen local production and reduce reliance on foreign military supplies.
According to the government, the approach, which will be adopted in the coming years, is anchored on indigenous innovation, strategic partnerships, and sustained investment, with the aim of enhancing national security while easing the economic pressures associated with large-scale defence imports.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the unveiling of the DICON X-Shield light tactical armoured vehicle and a range of civilian armoured vehicles produced locally through a partnership involving the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
Matawalle, who was represented at the event by the Director-General of DICON, Major General Babatunde Alaya, said the current push for indigenous defence manufacturing marks the beginning of a broader strategy aimed at achieving full local production of military and security equipment.
“This is just the beginning. We will do more to ensure that all required defence and security equipment are produced locally, and in two to five years’ time there will be no more importation,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s future defence capability would be domestically driven through trusted collaborations. “The future of Nigeria’s defence and security capability will be built at home by Nigerian hands through trusted partnerships such as the one we celebrate today,” he noted, while stressing the economic benefits of localisation.
According to the minister, the unveiling represented more than a product launch, as DICON’s mandate is to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, with success dependent on partnerships that deliver technical expertise, long-term vision, and sustainable local production capacity.
Speaking at the event, X-Shield Chief Executive Officer Charles Ibanga described the firm as a dependable local provider, stating, “In a market where the demand for armoured mobility continues to rise, X-Shield has positioned itself as a credible and dependable indigenous solution provider.”
Ibanga cited National Bureau of Statistics data to highlight the scale of imports, saying, “According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in the last quarter of 2023 alone, Nigeria’s spending on armoured vehicles exceeded its spending on fuel.” He added that armoured vehicle imports totalled “over ₦5.06tn,” underscoring the urgency of domestic production.
