The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Nigeria, General Christopher Musa, has expressed confidence that the country is on the verge of becoming a major player in the production of military equipment within the next few years.
This statement was made during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.
General Musa discussed the significant strides being made by the Nigerian military in the production of weapons, particularly focusing on small calibre weapons. He pointed out that while the military had previously been involved in producing some of its own armaments, production had slowed in past years.
However, with the recent signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill, the CDS noted that these efforts are now gaining momentum.
“We used to assemble guns from DICON but it stopped, that is being restored now. We produce our own ammunition now. Directly we do that for small calibre 7.62mm, we do that and 9mm, we also do that,” General Musa said. He also added that the military’s goal is to expand production to include more powerful calibres, such as 5.6mm and 12.7mm, to meet the evolving demands of the armed forces.
General Musa also drew attention to the achievements of other countries, citing Brazil’s success in producing unmanned aircraft and submarines. He noted that both Nigeria and Brazil started their military equipment production programs 60 years ago, and while Brazil has made great strides, Nigeria is now aiming to catch up.
“Brazil is producing unmanned aircraft and unmanned submarines, they have gone very far, and we want to achieve that,” the CDS added.
In addition to bolstering national security, General Musa emphasized that the local production of military equipment would have significant economic benefits. It is expected to create job opportunities for the country’s youth, as well as boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
He further explained that local production would also enable Nigeria to export military equipment to neighboring countries, generating additional funds for the military.
The CDS also addressed the recent court decision to classify the Lakurawa sect as a terrorist organization, noting that this designation provides the Nigerian military with the legal backing to take decisive action against them.
With this new legal status, General Musa emphasized that the military would now be able to target Lakurawa members more effectively, using advanced military hardware such as the Super Tucano fighter jets.
These weapons, which had restrictions on their use due to international agreements, can now be employed in operations against designated terrorist groups like Lakurawa.
