By Bavoriat Clara
In a historic stride toward national self-reliance, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to transforming Nigeria from a consumer to a producer of defence hardware by harnessing local capacity, talent, and resources.
This was made known by the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, MON, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development on Monday, 9th November 2025, at the Ship House, Abuja. The agreement marks a landmark partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
Describing the collaboration as “a bold and visionary move that aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Dr. Matawalle noted that the initiative represents a turning point in Nigeria’s industrial and defence history. According to him, the partnership aims to bridge the gap between resource availability and technological application in military production.
He stated, “For too long, Nigeria has depended on foreign nations for essential defence equipment, yet we have all it takes — the raw materials, the human capital, and the expertise to manufacture these products locally.” He added that the agreement reaffirms President Tinubu’s directive for the country to build its capacity and secure the nation through innovation and self-reliance.
On his part, the Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Audu Abubakar, disclosed that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, once regarded as a dormant national asset, is being repositioned as a critical contributor to national security and industrial growth. He explained that the MoU would enable Ajaokuta’s engineering workshops to produce defence materials such as helmets, vests, bullets, and rifles.
Dr. Abubakar further revealed that a portion of land within the Ajaokuta complex would be allocated for the establishment of a Military-Industrial Complex — a major milestone toward building Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
He emphasized that the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s determination to revitalize strategic national assets, promote innovation, and enhance the nation’s security architecture through local industrial development.
The highlight of the event was the formal signing of the MoU by both ministers. They commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his foresight in fostering synergy among ministries to achieve national security goals through indigenous solutions.
The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the agreement to ensure sustainable defence production and industrial development in Nigeria.
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