The Federal Government has said it is laying the foundation to end the importation of defence and security equipment, with plans to produce all required assets locally within the next two to five years.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the unveiling of the DICON X-Shield light tactical armoured vehicle and a range of civilian armoured vehicles produced in Nigeria.
Matawalle, who was represented at the event by the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, Major General Babatunde Alaya, said the current efforts at indigenous defence manufacturing marked only the starting point of a broader strategy aimed at full local production of military and security equipment.
“This is just the beginning. We will do more so that we can 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 said the future of Nigeria’s defence and security capability would be built locally through indigenous innovation and strategic partnerships.
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“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.
“By localising production, it will open pathways for export and regional leadership in defence manufacturing. It creates skilled jobs, transfers technical knowledge and conserves foreign exchange,” he said.
He said the unveiling of the armoured vehicles demonstrated the convergence of security needs, indigenous capacity, industrial expertise and commercial opportunity, noting that it was not just a product launch but a reflection of growing confidence in Nigeria’s technical competence.
According to him, DICON was established to drive indigenous defence manufacturing, reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and position Nigeria as a credible producer of military and security equipment.
He stressed that achieving this mandate required partnerships with private sector organisations with the technical expertise, discipline and long-term vision to support sustainable local production.
Matawalle commended X-Shield for its role in advanced vehicle armour, ballistic engineering, systems integration and quality assurance, describing the company as a worthy partner in Nigeria’s defence industrial drive.
He said the locally produced tactical armoured vehicle was designed to meet the realities of modern operations, including mobility, protection, adaptability and survivability, while remaining cost-effective and suitable for local production and maintenance.
The minister also noted that the collaboration between DICON and X-Shield would strengthen Nigeria’s defence industrial base, create skilled jobs, facilitate technology transfer, conserve foreign exchange and open opportunities for exports.
He reiterated the government’s resolve to deepen similar partnerships that align national security interests with industrial growth and commercial sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of X-Shield, Charles Ibanga, said the company was positioning itself as a dependable indigenous solution provider in a market where demand for armoured mobility continues to grow.
“In a market where the demand for armoured mobility continues to rise—across defence and security agencies, critical infrastructure operators and the private sector—X-Shield has positioned itself as a credible and dependable indigenous solution provider,” Ibanga said.
He cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics to underscore the urgency of local manufacturing.
“The opportunity before us is immense. 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. The country imported over ₦5.06tn worth of armoured vehicles, compared to ₦1.81tn spent on petrol—a difference of ₦3.25tn, with armoured vehicles accounting for 35.87 per cent of total imports,” he said.
Nigeria’s renewed push for indigenous defence manufacturing comes amid rising security challenges and growing concerns over the high cost and sustainability of importing military and security equipment.
For decades, the country has relied heavily on foreign suppliers for critical defence assets, exposing it to supply chain disruptions, foreign exchange pressure and delayed procurement.