The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria-D7G (DICON-D7G) has partnered Eagles International for Defence Systems to establish local production lines for armoured vehicles, anti-drone systems and other specialised military equipment.
The partnership is aimed at expanding Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capacity, facilitating technology transfer and reducing the country’s dependence on imported military hardware.
The Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr Osman Chennar, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, August 16, following a two-day inspection tour of factories and military production facilities in Cairo by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and his delegation.
Chennar said the partnership would also generate employment while creating opportunities for retired military personnel to contribute their experience to the local defence industry.
He said, “The partnership is expected to create employment for over 200 workers, in addition to providing opportunities for approximately 100 retired military personnel.”
According to him, the arrangement would support the transfer of advanced defence technologies to Nigeria and enable the country to manufacture a wider range of military platforms for its armed forces and potentially other African countries.
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The equipment targeted under the partnership includes the Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle BR6, Armoured Personnel Carrier cabin, 120mm manual mortar launcher cabin, as well as medical evacuation and ambulance cabins.
Other platforms include the MRAP-Buffalo U.10 and M.12 armoured vehicles, MRAP-Buffalo F-4, Rhino Guard GXR anti-drone and RPG-protected vehicle, APC Moon PT6, GXR Phantom light vehicle and BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
Chennar said the initiative formed part of a broader plan to develop a sustainable Nigerian defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of designing, assembling and producing military equipment locally.
The move comes as the Nigerian Army continues to receive locally manufactured armoured vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen indigenous defence production and improve its operational capacity.
The partnership is expected to have broader economic benefits by retaining more defence spending within Nigeria, developing specialised technical skills and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
DICON-D7G said the planned production lines and logistics facilities would strengthen Nigeria’s ability to sustain its armed forces with locally produced equipment during prolonged security operations, while also creating opportunities to serve defence markets across Africa.