Nigeria has moved to boost local defence production after the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria signed an MoU with Terra Industries to form a joint venture company. The agreement, backed by the DICON Act 2023, focuses on indigenous manufacturing and research in advanced military systems. Officials say it marks a new phase in reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

The partnership will support local assembly, training and innovation in areas such as drones, robotics and cybersecurity tools. DICON’s Director-General described the deal as a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s defence base. Terra Industries’ leadership also said the move reflects confidence in local engineering talent.

Experts believe the initiative could create jobs and encourage collaboration between industry and universities. Jide Awe noted that building strong local capacity in secure communications and embedded systems will improve national resilience. He stressed that knowledge transfer and intellectual property development must be prioritised.

Analysts added that defence technology can benefit civilian sectors like agriculture and telecommunications. However, they warned that steady funding, skilled manpower and strong governance will determine success. Many observers now await concrete results as implementation begins.