Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) D7G has unveiled plans to expand indigenous defence manufacturing, attract foreign investment and create 7,000 jobs for retired military personnel and civilians as Nigeria intensifies efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in military equipment production.
The Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr Osman Chennar, disclosed this in a statement on Monday at the ongoing Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos.m, saying the initiative aims to reduce dependence on imported military hardware through local production, technology transfer and strategic partnerships.
TheFact Dsily notes that DICON-D7G is a joint venture between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the government-owned defence manufacturing corporation established in 1964, and private company D7G Limited. The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2024, aims to boost local production of arms, ammunition, military vehicles and other defence equipment for Nigeria’s armed forces and security agencies.
The proposed employment opportunities comprise 2,000 positions for retired military personnel and 5,000 for civilians, covering manufacturing, engineering, logistics, information technology, research and development, among other fields.
Chennar said the organisation also plans to acquire about 40,000 square metres of land in Lagos for an international exhibition centre to host defence exhibitions, technology showcases, industrial fairs and investment forums.
He said DICON-D7G was engaging foreign manufacturers, investors and technology companies to strengthen local production capacity, citing its recent participation in an exhibition in Qatar as part of efforts to attract international partnerships and facilitate technology transfer.
Beyond arms and ammunition, the organisation plans to expand manufacturing to include tanks, armoured personnel carriers, mine-resistant vehicles, boats and drones, with the broader goal of conserving foreign exchange, creating jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s military-industrial base.
The initiative comes amid renewed efforts to boost indigenous defence production following President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the DICON Amendment Act into law in November 2023, providing an expanded framework for developing Nigeria’s defence industry.
