The Minister Of State for Defence ,Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle has disclosed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria requires 200m rounds of ammunition annually for it operations costing the government at least two dollars per munition.
He disclosed this on Wednesday, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the ministry of defense (MOD), Defence Industries Corporations of Nigeria (DICON) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering NASENI on establishment of ammunition production factory in Nigeria.
He blamed past governments for the nations failure to achieve self sufficiency in defence production.
“We have been travelling all over the world, and we see how local manufacturers are developing their countries. But unfortunately, Nigeria, for 60 years, has failed to build the institutions but that has changed and it will continue changing, inshallah.
“Therefore, I make a promise to Mr. President that as far as MOD, before the expiration of his four years, I assure him that DICON will be exporting its military capabilities.
“Therefore, all we need from all of you is prayers and your dedications. We shall look at it as our own baby, not just for me, for all of us.Of course, if today we are doing even 60 or 70% reductions of our military hardware and ammunition, how much the ministry or the military are spending every year, the requirement of just military is about 200 million rounds of ammunition per annum. Just military. Put together, other paramilitaries, the police, we’re looking at about 350 million rounds of ammunition per annum”.
The Executive Vice Chairman,NASENI Khalil Suleiman Halilu said the signing of the MoU a significant milestone in strengthening the nation’s defence capabilities and achieve self reliance in the production of military hardwares.
He said the partnership between NASENI and the Ministry of Defence is a testament to the nation’s commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s scientific and engineering expertise in the service of national defence.
“NASENI has always been at the forefront of promoting innovation and technological advancement across various sectors in Nigeria, and with our track record of success in research and development, manufacturing, we are well positioned to contribute meaningfully to the establishment of the MIC.
“Our goal is to create a robust ecosystem that does not only support the needs of the armed forces, but also foster growth of the local industries, thereby reducing our dependencies on foreign imports”.
He reiterated that the Military Industrial Complex will serve as a hub for the development and production maintenance of military equipment, ranging from small arms and advanced defence systems.
“By leveraging NASENI’s expertise in areas such as material science, robotics and advanced manufacturing, we ensure that our military is well equipped with the best tools to defend our nation. This MOU represents the beginning of a long-term collaboration aimed at enhancing our defence capabilities through innovation and indigenous production.
It is our firm belief that through this partnership we will lay the foundation of a self-reliant defence industry that can meet the needs of our armed forces and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth” he said.
The Minister Of Steel development Shuaibu Audu stated that the Ajaokuta Steel Plant provides a perfect platform for the Military Industrial Complex.
He said the Ajaokuta steel sitting on about 24,000 hectares of land, while the steel plant, that has 44 production units, sits on 800 hectares also has more than 10,000 housing units, of which about only 3,000 to 4,000 is occupied.
“So it has capacity to be able to withhold military barracks. There’s an engineering workshop in some of the production units there that can help to produce helmets, vests, rifles, bullets, and body parts for military tanks and the likes. So there are great opportunities for this initiative to dovetail into an MOU partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development to take this initiative further”