The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) is teaming up with defence firm D7G to ramp up domestic production of weapons, ammunition, and other military hardware.
DICON’s Director-General, Major General Babatunde Alaya, revealed the partnership during a briefing in Kaduna on Tuesday.
He emphasized that the collaboration is geared toward advancing Nigeria’s capacity for in-country defence manufacturing.
“Our alliance with D7G is a significant step in expanding local production. We’re targeting the development of ammunition, firearms, military-grade vehicles, and drones,” Alaya stated.
He noted that the partnership already has a structured plan in place, with timelines being finalized to ensure steady progress.
The goal, he said, is to achieve tangible results within the next one to two years.
Speaking on the specifics, D7G Chief Executive Officer Osman Chennar said the partnership would establish assembly facilities for a range of defence products, including firearms, vehicles, and unmanned systems.
“We intend to assemble AK-47 and AK-103 rifles, sniper weapons, pistols, and grenade launchers,” Chennar said.
“On the vehicle side, we’ll be producing 4×4 and 6×6 MRAPs and APCs.”
He added that a drone production unit will also be developed to produce UAVs and anti-drone technology, with Nigerian workers receiving specialized training to manage and maintain the operations.
The initiative marks a major move towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing and is expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign military imports.
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