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PHOTOS: Nigeria to Begin Large-Scale Local Production of Military Hardware Within One Year – Defence Minister
Nigeria will begin large-scale local production of military hardware within the next year as the Federal Government moves to reduce dependence on imported defence equipment and strengthen the country’s domestic defence industry.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, announced this after attending the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026, which brought together African governments, military institutions, defence manufacturers and technology innovators to explore opportunities for defence cooperation and indigenous manufacturing.
Musa said the government was working to expand Nigeria’s defence production capacity through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (#DICON), with emphasis on investment, research and development, technology transfer and partnerships with international manufacturers.
He explained that the initiative would focus on the local production of military equipment, weapons, ammunition and other essential defence systems to meet the operational requirements of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
According to the minister, developing domestic manufacturing capacity would strengthen the military’s ability to respond to security threats while reducing reliance on foreign suppliers for critical defence materials.
Musa also identified #AFRIDEX as an important platform for building international partnerships, exchanging technical expertise and attracting investments into Nigeria’s defence sector.
He said the exhibition would help position Nigeria as a potential supplier of military equipment to other African countries, in addition to meeting its own defence requirements.
The planned expansion of local production forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s defence industrial base and promote indigenous technological capabilities in response to evolving security challenges.
However, the minister did not provide specific details on the production facilities, equipment categories, investment commitments or implementation timeline for individual manufacturing projects.
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