Nigeria Poised for Defence Self-Sufficiency in Five Years, States Minister Matawalle

Nigeria is progressing towards becoming self-sufficient in defence manufacturing, with a target of achieving this status within the coming five years, according to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

Matawalle indicated that if the current efforts to bolster Nigeria’s military- industrial capabilities continue, the nation will cease importing defence and security equipment.

This statement was made during the official unveiling of a Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle and other civilian armoured platforms, developed by X-Shield Solutions Company Limited, in Abuja.

Speaking through the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, the minister highlighted the event as a significant achievement for Nigeria's defence sector.

"For us at DICON, this is another milestone," Matawalle remarked. "One of our joint-venture partners has unveiled an indigenously designed and built light tactical armoured vehicle. This is the way forward."

He credited the DICON Act 2023 for this advancement, thanking President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the law. Matawalle expressed confidence that Nigeria would cease importing defence equipment within two to five years.

The minister emphasized that Nigeria's future defence capabilities will be cultivated domestically through strategic alliances designed to foster industrial growth and commercial viability.

In a goodwill message, former DICON Director-General, Major General Victor Okwudili Ezugwu (rtd), advocated for continuous government support for local defence production, noting that Nigeria already exports some of its manufactured defence items to other African nations.

Charles Ibanga, the Managing Director and CEO of X-Shield, stated that the venture aligns national security requirements with local expertise and market potential. He referenced statistics indicating that Nigeria spent over ₦5.06 trillion on imported armoured vehicles in the final quarter of 2023, underscoring the critical need for domestic production.

Ibanga added that the collaboration between DICON and X-Shield aims to provide advanced armoured solutions to Nigerian security agencies, essential institutions, and businesses, thereby reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.