Nigeria will commence large-scale local production of defence hardware, including weapons, ammunition and military equipment within the next one year, as part of efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported arms.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), disclosed this on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, during the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition, AFRIDEX 2026.
AFRIDEX 2026 is a landmark defence exhibition bringing together African governments, military institutions, global defence manufacturers and technology innovators to strengthen security cooperation and develop practical responses to security challenges confronting the continent.
General Musa said the exhibition, which covers land, air, maritime, space and cyber domains, is aimed at connecting Africa’s security needs with the technology, expertise, investment and industrial capacity required to address them.
According to him, the platform creates opportunities to explore modern defence systems, exchange knowledge, establish effective partnerships and develop home-grown solutions that will strengthen regional security.
For Nigeria, the Defence Minister said the federal government is deliberately building capacity to produce more of what the Armed Forces need locally, rather than relying on importation of defence hardware.
He explained that through investment, technology transfer, research and collaboration with international manufacturers, the government is advancing local production of military equipment, weapons, ammunition and other essential defence systems through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON.
“Our goal is to expand indigenous manufacturing capacity and strengthen our ability to meet our own defence needs,” General Musa stated.
He announced that within the next year, Nigeria will commence large-scale local production of defence hardware to meet domestic requirements and support exports to other African countries.
The Minister described the move as an important step towards building a self-reliant defence industry, strengthening national security and positioning Nigeria as a key contributor to Africa’s defence manufacturing capacity.
He added that AFRIDEX also provides an opportunity to deepen bilateral and multilateral security relations, exchange expertise and build partnerships that will translate into sustained security benefits for Nigeria and the wider African continent.
General Musa commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to promoting indigenous production of defence equipment and advancing national security, noting that the President’s support for initiatives such as AFRIDEX reinforces the determination to build a defence industry that serves the Armed Forces, protects citizens and contributes to a more secure Nigeria and Africa.
“I thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his commitment to promoting indigenous production of defence equipment and advancing national security. His support for initiatives such as AFRIDEX reinforces our determination to build a defence industry that serves our Armed Forces, protects our citizens and contributes to a more secure Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
AFRIDEX 2026, the first of its kind in Africa, is expected to attract defence chiefs, policy makers, and leading defence companies from across the world, with Nigeria seeking to leverage the exhibition to attract investment and technology transfer into its defence sector.
The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, established in 1964 and based in Kaduna, is statutorily mandated to produce arms and ammunition for the Nigerian Armed Forces. The corporation is currently being repositioned under the Tinubu administration to drive Nigeria’s military-industrial complex, following years of underutilization and reliance on foreign arms procurement to fight insurgency, banditry and other security challenges.
