LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria plans to begin large-scale domestic production of military equipment within the next year, with the government aiming to meet the armed forces’ needs locally and supply other African countries.

Minister of Defence Christopher Musa announced the plan following the inaugural Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos, where government officials, military institutions, defence manufacturers and technology companies gathered to discuss investment and cooperation in the sector.

Musa said expanding local manufacturing would reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign suppliers while strengthening national security and building the country’s defence industrial capacity.

The proposed expansion will cover weapons, ammunition, military equipment and other essential defence systems. According to the minister, the government intends to support production through investment, technology transfer, research and partnerships with international manufacturers.

DICON at the Centre of Manufacturing Plans

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) is expected to play a central role in expanding domestic production and supplying equipment required by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Nigeria currently relies heavily on imported military hardware, making the development of local manufacturing capacity a strategic priority as the country confronts persistent security challenges.

However, the minister’s announcement did not specify which production facilities would become operational first, the expected output of the proposed manufacturing lines or the investment required to meet the one-year target.

The extent to which Nigeria can achieve the plan will depend on its ability to secure funding, access specialised technology, develop technical expertise and establish reliable supply chains for defence manufacturing.

Musa also called on international companies and strategic partners to invest in Nigeria’s defence industry, saying the exhibition could help strengthen bilateral and multilateral security relationships and facilitate the exchange of expertise.

AFRIDEX Seeks to Expand African Defence Cooperation

The inaugural AFRIDEX exhibition brought together representatives from African governments, military institutions and defence industries to explore cooperation across land, air, maritime, space and cyber security.

President Bola Tinubu, represented at the opening ceremony by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also called for partnerships with international defence manufacturers and technology innovators.

The discussions focused on linking Africa’s security requirements with the technology, expertise and industrial investment needed to address them.

Beyond meeting its own military requirements, Nigeria hopes to position its defence industry as a supplier to other African countries. Achieving that ambition would require manufacturers to deliver equipment that meets operational needs and applicable quality and safety standards.

For now, the government has set out its production target, but the announcement leaves key implementation details unresolved. The next stage will be translating the stated ambition into functioning production facilities and a clear timetable for delivering equipment.

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