The Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN) has called for the full implementation of ongoing defence industry reforms to accelerate Nigeria’s drive toward self-reliance in military hardware production.
The Secretary-General of DIAN, Mr Kola Balogun, made the call in an interview with NAN in Abuja, stressing that Nigeria must develop indigenous weapons and equipment suited to its unique security environment.
Balogun said many of the security challenges facing the country were home-grown and could not be effectively addressed through imported solutions alone, noting that local production of both lethal and non-lethal equipment remained critical to operational success.
He said the revised Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act, which opened the sector to private sector participation, had laid the foundation for growth of the defence industry, leading to the emergence of DIAN.
According to him, although Nigeria possesses credible defence production capacity, local manufacturers have suffered from low patronage, limiting their ability to scale up production and deepen technology transfer.
Balogun noted that stakeholders in the sector were currently restructuring to correct past inefficiencies and build stronger technical capability, adding that increased government support would help fast-track the industry’s growth trajectory.
He also underscored the need for interoperability and local servicing of defence platforms, warning that over-reliance on foreign support for spare parts and maintenance could undermine operational readiness.
The DIAN secretary-general said sustained funding, stronger collaboration among stakeholders and expanded regional outreach would enable Nigeria to emerge as a dependable defence equipment supplier within West Africa.
He expressed confidence that with consistent policy support, Nigeria’s defence industry could significantly reduce import dependence and contribute to national economic and security development.