Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has revealed that the Nigerian Armed Forces require 200 million rounds of ammunition annually for their operations, with each round costing the government at least two dollars.
News About Nigeria reports that Matawalle made this statement on Wednesday, August 14, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence, through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering (NASENI).
The MoU aims to establish an ammunition production factory in Nigeria.
The minister criticised past administrations for failing to achieve self-sufficiency in defence production, emphasising the need for local manufacturing to reduce the country’s reliance on imported military hardware.
He promised that by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s four-year term, DICON would be exporting its military capabilities.
Matawalle noted that if Nigeria could produce 60 to 70 percent of its military hardware and ammunition, it would reduce the ministry’s annual procurement expenses.
He also stated that the combined ammunition requirements of the military, paramilitaries, and police amount to about 350 million rounds per year.
In his remarks, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, described the MoU as a milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s defence capabilities and achieving self-reliance in military hardware production.
Halilu emphasised NASENI’s role in promoting innovation and technological advancement, which would support the needs of the armed forces and foster the growth of local industries.
The Military Industrial Complex, as envisioned by NASENI, would serve as a hub for developing and maintaining military equipment, from small arms to advanced defence systems.
The collaboration aims to enhance defence capabilities through innovation and indigenous production, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, added that the Ajaokuta Steel Plant provides a perfect platform for the Military Industrial Complex, with its vast land, production units, and housing capacity.
He suggested that the plant’s engineering workshop could be utilised to produce military equipment, including helmets, vests, rifles, and tank parts. Audu proposed further collaboration between the Ministries of Defence and Steel Development to advance this initiative.
