As military tensions escalates globally and warfare between nations becomes increasingly technology-driven, Nigeria has intensified efforts to strengthen its indigenous defence industry through strategic partnerships and local manufacturing.
According to a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria-DICON-D7G, Mr. Osman Chennar, a technology transfer and production partnership with Eagles International for Defence Systems of Egypt to expand domestic capacity for the manufacturing of armoured vehicles, anti-drone systems and other specialised military equipment have been signed
The partnership was announced following a two-day inspection tour of factories and military production facilities in Cairo, Egypt, by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle and a delegation of defence officials. Mr. Osman Chennar revealed that in a statement after the tour.
He stated that the collaboration is aimed at boosting technology transfer, reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign imports, and building capacity to produce critical military hardware locally.
Under the agreement, DICON-D7G and Eagles International will work on the local production and assembly of a range of equipment, including:
- Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6
- Armoured Personnel Carrier cabin
- 120mm Manual Mortar Launcher cabin
- Medical Evacuation and Ambulance cabins
- MRAP-Buffalo F-4
- Rhino Guard GXR Anti-Drone System
- RPG-Protected Vehicle
- APC Moon PT6
- GXR Phantom Light Vehicle
- BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Chennar declared that the equipment was selected to address Nigeria’s immediate operational needs in counter-insurgency, border security, and protection against emerging threats such as drone warfare.
“The partnership targets direct technology transfer that will enable us to build, maintain, and upgrade these platforms here in Nigeria,” he said.
Beyond manufactured equipment, DICON-D7G also announced plans to develop a dedicated military jetty in Lagos to serve as a strategic logistics hub.
Military Production Drive to Boost Nigeria’s Defence Industry
According to Chennar,the facility will streamline the supply and distribution of military equipment within Nigeria and across the African continent, while reducing turnaround time for deployments and deliveries.
The CEO emphasized that the project will have significant economic benefits beyond national security.
“Aside from the advantage of retaining defence expenditure within the domestic economy, the initiative will also create employment opportunities for over 200 retired military personnel and more than 1,000 civilians,” Chennar stated.
He added that full operations are expected to commence within the next two to three months, with initial focus on assembly and technology transfer, before moving to full-scale manufacturing.
This move comes at a time when multiple conflicts across different continents have highlighted the risks of over-reliance on foreign arms supplies and the growing role of technology in modern warfare, including drones, armoured systems and precision weapons.
For Nigeria, strengthening DICON has been a long-standing policy objective. The partnership with Eagles International is seen as part of a broader strategy to position the country as a regional hub for defence production in West Africa.
Notably, Defence analysts affirm that local production of armoured vehicles and anti-drone systems will not only improve response time for the Armed Forces but also reduce costs and support Nigeria’s export ambitions in the African defence market.
With the new partnership and logistics infrastructure in the works, DICON-D7G says it is laying the foundation for a more self-reliant and technologically advanced Nigerian defence industry.
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