By Bavoriat Clara
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting indigenous defence manufacturing companies, while stressing the need for sustained product quality and integrity checks, especially for export-bound equipment.
Mr. Pheelangwa made this known on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, during a familiarisation visit to Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPRIL) in Ogun State. During the visit, he commended the company for its contributions to Nigeria’s security architecture and urged it to continue producing durable and reliable equipment for military formations in Nigeria and across the African region.
He noted that the Ministry of Defence has demonstrated strong commitment to supporting EPRIL’s operations, particularly due to the company’s critical role in supporting military activities within Nigeria and beyond. According to him, since assuming office, the ministry has facilitated the issuance of End User Certificates as well as tax exemptions from the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service to ease the importation of essential raw materials.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that sustained collaboration with the ministry would require continuous integrity and quality checks on all equipment produced, especially items supplied outside the country. He explained that the quality of products and services rendered by defence companies would largely determine the level of patronage they receive from both local and international clients.
In his response, the Managing Director of EPRIL, Mr. Kola Balogun, appreciated the Permanent Secretary for the visit and the consistent support received from the Ministry of Defence. He pledged the company’s continued collaboration with the ministry in all its operations. EPRIL is an indigenous defence company specializing in the production of military operational tools and security equipment and remains a key supplier to the Nigerian military and other international clients.
Mr. Pheelangwa also extended his familiarisation visit to Proforce Group Limited, also located in Ogun State. He acknowledged the company’s growth over the years, describing it as Nigeria’s first and only indigenous defence contractor specializing in the design and manufacture of armoured vehicles and security systems for land and naval applications.
He commended Proforce for its significant contributions to Nigeria’s security architecture and urged the company to sustain the production of viable and durable defence solutions for military operations in Nigeria and across Africa.
Reiterating the ministry’s support, the Permanent Secretary assured Proforce of continued assistance in facilitating End User Certificates and tax exemptions to ease the importation of raw materials required for its projects.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Proforce Group Limited, Engr. Ade Ogundeyin, expressed appreciation for the ministry’s recognition and pledged sustained collaboration with the Ministry of Defence in achieving national security objectives.
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