Nigeria will begin large-scale local production of military hardware within the next year to meet domestic defence needs and support exports to other African countries, Defence Minister General Christopher Musa has announced.
The announcement followed major joint venture agreements signed at the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition 2026, which brought together African governments, military institutions, defence manufacturers and technology innovators in Lagos.
The centrepiece is a $2 billion joint venture agreement between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and SP Offshore Nigeria Limited.
The partnership is structured to begin domestic manufacturing of military munitions, drones, tactical vehicles and defence equipment.
A concurrent agreement was signed between the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Federal Ministry of Steel Development.
That partnership will leverage the Ajaokuta steel site to locally manufacture bullets, military helmets and rifles.
Musa said the government is working to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported defence equipment by expanding indigenous manufacturing through DICON, focusing on investment, research, technology transfer and partnerships with international manufacturers.
He said the initiative will boost local production of military equipment, weapons, ammunition and other essential defence systems while improving the Armed Forces’ capacity to respond to security threats.
The minister said AFRIDEX would help Nigeria build international partnerships, exchange expertise and develop a defence industry capable of meeting national needs and supplying other African countries.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu opened AFRIDEX 2026, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, declaring Nigeria open to strategic defence partnerships.
The event runs from 26 to 29 October at Eko Atlantic and features more than 500 international exhibiting companies and over 20,000 defence professionals across land, air, sea, cyber and space domains.
Nigeria unveiled its first 3D-printed Uncrewed Surface Vessel at the opening ceremony.
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke joined more than 100 international delegations at the event.
The agreements now move into implementation. The next step is the mobilisation of the Ajaokuta steel complex for military production and the establishment of production lines under the DICON-SP Offshore joint venture. #nigeria24
