Nigeria’s Defence Ministry has announced a groundbreaking achievement in defence self-sufficiency, with military workshops now capable of producing Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), bulletproof glass, and surveillance drones. This development marks a pivotal reduction in Nigeria’s reliance on foreign defence suppliers.
Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar highlighted substantial investments in upgrading military workshops and production facilities, reflecting a firm governmental commitment to promoting local content within the defence sector. The ability to manufacture APCs domestically represents a critical enhancement of troop protection capabilities during combat operations while significantly cutting procurement costs.
Locally produced bulletproof glass also strengthens Nigeria’s defence infrastructure, offering quicker response times to emerging threats alongside considerable cost savings. Meanwhile, the introduction of indigenous surveillance drones equips the military with improved intelligence gathering and battlefield monitoring capabilities, previously dependent on costly imports.
This initiative forms part of broader efforts to develop Nigeria’s defence industry, supported by institutions such as the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Nigerian Defence Academy. These bodies play instrumental roles in advancing local production and enhancing the nation’s military readiness.
The expansion of Nigeria’s defence manufacturing not only bolsters national security by reducing dependency on external sources but also drives job creation and economic growth. This milestone underscores Nigeria’s strategic progress toward a self-reliant defence sector capable of meeting contemporary security challenges.