The Federal Government of Nigeria is laying the groundwork to end the importation of defence and security equipment within the next two to five years, shifting instead to local production of military hardware, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, announced in Abuja on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
This policy moves positions Nigeria on a path toward self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing and reduced reliance on foreign suppliers.
Matawalle’s statement was made during the unveiling of the DICON X-Shield light tactical armoured vehicle and a range of civilian armoured vehicles produced domestically by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
He said the government’s long-term strategy is to leverage Nigeria’s industrial capacity and skilled workforce to meet national defence needs locally, rather than depending on imports.
The plan to end importation of defence equipment aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s military industrial complex and promote indigenous defence manufacturing.
Government officials have increasingly emphasised the importance of local content and industrial growth in the defence sector as a means to enhance national security, create jobs and preserve foreign exchange reserves.
Recent initiatives have included Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between DICON and local firms to produce armoured vehicles, weapons and related hardware, supported under the DICON Act 2023 legislative framework.
Nigeria’s reliance on imported military equipment has been substantial in recent years, with analysts noting that the country spent more than ₦800 billion on arms and ammunition imports between 2020 and mid-2025, reflecting persistent dependence on foreign suppliers.
Ending this pattern could yield economic benefits by keeping more defence-related expenditures within the domestic economy.
Under the proposed timeline, the government aims to develop core manufacturing capabilities that allow the country to produce a wide range of defence assets, including armoured personnel carriers, tactical vehicles, protective gear and potentially aircraft components and unmanned systems in partnership with private and international technology partners.
For Nigeria’s growing industrial and technology sectors, the shift toward local defence production represents a significant opportunity. Enhanced domestic manufacturing can stimulate growth in heavy engineering, fabrication and high-technology industries.
Economic analysts say local production could also spur job creation and linkages across the value chain, from raw materials and steel production to advanced electronics and systems integration.
The policy direction is expected to create synergies with existing national industrial frameworks, such as the partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development to use facilities like the Ajaokuta Steel Complex for manufacturing helmets, vests, ammunition and small arms locally.
Reducing reliance on imported military equipment also carries strategic benefits for national security planning.
By producing equipment domestically, Nigeria can gain greater control over maintenance cycles, inventory availability and supply chain resilience. Factors that are critical to sustaining operations across counterterrorism, border security and peace-keeping missions.
Officials said the government’s approach remains pragmatic and phased, recognising that technological capability and quality assurance are necessary to meet defence standards.
By progressively building capacity, Nigeria can avoid procurement bottlenecks and ensure that security forces have reliable, locally supported equipment.
The Federal Government’s plan to end importation of defence equipment underscores a major pivot toward industrial self-reliance and national security autonomy.
With strategic investments in local production, partnerships with technology firms and legislative backing for defence industrialisation, Nigeria is charting a long-term course to build a sustainable and competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem that supports economic growth and national security objectives.
