The Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to transform Nigeria from a consumer into a proud producer of defence hardware, by harnessing local talent, resources, and capacity.
Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, stated this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development on Monday, 9th November 2025, at Ship House, Abuja.
According to a statement on Tuesday by the ministry’s Director, Information and Public Relations, Enderline Chukwu, the agreement officially sealed the long-anticipated partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
Dr. Matawalle, who described the collaboration as “a bold and visionary step” in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noted that the initiative marks a turning point in Nigeria’s defence and industrial development. He emphasized that the partnership bridges the gap between the country’s vast natural resources and the application of technology in military hardware production.
“For too long, Nigeria has depended on foreign nations for essential defence equipment. Yet, we have all it takes — raw materials, human capital, and expertise — to produce these items locally. This partnership is a reaffirmation of Mr. President’s directive that we must rely on ourselves, build our capacity, and secure our nation through innovation”, Matawalle said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Audu Abubakar, disclosed that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex — once seen as a dormant national asset — is now being repositioned as a vital contributor to national security and industrial growth.
According to him, the MoU would enable Ajaokuta’s engineering workshops to produce military items such as helmets, vests, bullets, and rifles. He added that land had been earmarked for the construction of a Military-Industrial Complex, a significant stride towards realizing Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
Dr. Audu further emphasized that the collaboration underscores the government’s determination to revive strategic national assets for innovation and strengthen national security through indigenous industrial capacity.
The highlight of the event was the formal signing of the MoU by both ministers, who lauded President Tinubu’s foresight in fostering inter-ministerial collaboration to advance national security objectives through local solutions.
They pledged their commitment to effective implementation of the agreement to ensure sustainable defence production and industrial growth across the country.
