President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Defence to work out a plan for the establishment of a modest Military Industrial Complex for the local production of weapons to meet some of the requirements of the Nigerian armed forces.
Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), one of the agencies under Defence ministry, has the responsibility to operate the factories for the manufacture and supply of arms and ammunition as well as inspecting, testing and recommending ordnance materials intended for use by the Armed Forces and other security organizations. while the excess capacity is used to support the development of local industries.
The only thing been produced at the factory at moment is a 7.62 x 39mm Special Ammunition Cartridge in her ultra-modern production facilities located in Kaduna South.A development President Buhari described as unacceptable during his speech at National Defence College Graduation,he said Nigeria depending on foreign countries for critical military equipment and logistics.
“We must evolve viable mechanisms for near-self-sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production complemented only by very advanced foreign technologies.
“The Ministry of Defence is tasked to draw up clear and measurable outlines for development of a modest Military Industrial Complex for Nigeria.
“In this regard, it is to liaise with other strategic MDAs and industries to re-engineer the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to meet national military hardware and logistics requirements,” he said.
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