Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
In a historic move toward self-reliance, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to transform the country from a consumer of defence equipment into a producer, leveraging local resources, talent, and expertise.
The announcement was made by Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development on Monday, November 9, 2025, at Ship House, Abuja. The agreement formalizes a partnership between the Defence Industrial Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, marking a landmark collaboration in Nigeria’s defence and industrial sectors.
Dr. Matawalle described the collaboration as “a bold and visionary move that aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.” He explained that the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between Nigeria’s rich resource base and the technological capacity required for military production.
Highlighting Nigeria’s historical reliance on foreign nations for essential defence hardware, Dr. Matawalle stressed that the country already possesses the raw materials, human capital, and expertise necessary to manufacture defence products locally. “For too long, Nigeria has depended on foreign nations for essential defence equipment, yet we have all it takes — the raw materials, the human capital, and the expertise to manufacture these products locally,” he said.
The partnership also reaffirms President Tinubu’s directive that Nigeria must build its own capacity to secure the nation through innovation. “The partnership reaffirms Mr. President’s directive that we must rely on ourselves, build our own capacity, and secure our nation through innovation,” Dr. Matawalle added.
Speaking at the event, Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Audu Abubakar, said the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, once a dormant national asset, is now being repositioned as a key contributor to national security and industrial growth. Under the agreement, Ajaokuta’s engineering workshops will be used to manufacture helmets, vests, bullets, and rifles, while a portion of land will be allocated for a Military-Industrial Complex, a major step toward establishing Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
Dr. Audu further emphasized that the collaboration demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalizing strategic national assets and strengthening Nigeria’s security through local industrial capacity.
The ministers commended President Tinubu for his foresight in promoting inter-ministerial synergy to achieve national security objectives through indigenous solutions, and both reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the agreements to ensure sustainable defence production and industrial development in the country.
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