Nigeria is edging closer to self-sufficiency in military hardware production, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has declared, following a two-day working tour of key military institutions in Kaduna State.
The Minister visited the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Nigerian Army Command Engineering Depot (CED), Buffalo Engineering Technical Services Limited (BETSL), and the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) — all pivotal to the country’s ongoing efforts to reduce dependency on foreign arms procurement.
Accompanied by top military brass including Major General M.L.D. Saraso, Major General A.K. Ibrahim, and Air Vice Marshal Sani Labaran Rabe, the Minister toured workshops and production facilities where combat platforms and armoured vehicles are being built or restored.
“What I saw on ground was impressive,” Badaru told journalists. “We’re no longer just repairing burnt or damaged tanks and APCs—we’re producing new ones: MRAPs, Buffalo APCs, bulletproof glass, UAVs, and spare parts. This is a bold leap toward true military self-reliance.”
He emphasized that locally produced equipment is already being deployed to various theatres of operation, bolstering the morale and capabilities of frontline troops.
The Minister hailed the technical ingenuity of Nigeria’s armed forces and underscored the critical importance of training, research, and innovation in driving the country’s defence agenda.
He further noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is fully backing these efforts, pointing to the recent signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill into law—a legal framework meant to accelerate local manufacturing and refurbishment of defence assets.
“President Tinubu is determined to transform Nigeria’s defence sector. With legislation like the new DICON law and ongoing investment in institutions like NDA, AFIT, CED, and BETSL, the path to military independence is now clearer than ever,” Badaru said.
The visit comes at a time when the country is intensifying operations against terrorism and banditry, prompting renewed focus on homegrown solutions to security challenges.
Badaru called for deeper synergy between the military, research institutions, and private sector players, assuring that the Ministry will continue to support indigenous innovations that align with Nigeria’s national security goals.
