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50 Firms to Produce Military Weapons Locally – Minister

The Federal Government announced on Thursday that Nigeria is set to commence local production of military equipment, following the recent signing of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Bill by President Bola Tinubu.

50 Firms to Produce Military Weapons Locally – Minister

Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, stated that with the bill now signed into law, the government has engaged in discussions with around 50 local and international firms to begin producing firearms domestically. He revealed that 13 of these firms have already started or are about to start production within Nigeria.

Speaking at the Ministerial Sectorial Update in Abuja, Badaru highlighted significant strides made in combating terrorism over the past year under President Tinubu’s administration. He noted, “With the bill in place, Nigeria has been in talks with over 50 private companies, both local and international, to produce weapons and other military equipment. In fact, 13 of them have already commenced or are close to starting production.”

The minister also reported that, in the last year, the military has neutralized 9,300 insurgents and apprehended 7,000 others. He attributed this success to the enhanced cooperation among the Service Chiefs under President Tinubu’s leadership.

Badaru emphasized that the synergy between the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Chief of Air Staff has significantly improved military operations. “This cooperation is a departure from past practices and has led to greater efficiency and productivity,” he said. He also mentioned the collaboration with the National Security Adviser, the police, the NSCDC, and other security agencies.

“This synergy has resulted in substantial progress over the past year. We have neutralized over 9,300 bandits and insurgents, arrested approximately 7,000, and rescued 4,641 kidnapped victims. We also recovered 4,882 assorted weapons and 83,900 rounds of ammunition. Notably, we neutralized at least 20 bandit leaders and commanders of insurgents and terrorists,” Badaru stated.

In efforts to boost oil production and combat oil theft, Badaru reported that 1,437 suspects have been arrested and 363 killed over the past year. He highlighted the ongoing operations’ success in shutting down most illegal refineries.

“Our operations to improve crude oil production have led to the arrest of 1,437 suspects, the neutralization of 363 individuals, and the release of 245 captives in the Niger Delta. We’ve destroyed 3,051 dug pits, 1,276 boats, and 3,924 storage tanks, effectively shutting down many illegal refineries and arresting numerous vessels,” he added.

The minister conveyed President Tinubu’s urgency in ending insecurity in the country. “The President constantly asks, ‘When will this end?’ I assure him it will be soon. We have the personnel, and with community support, over 100,000 terrorists have already surrendered. We anticipate more surrenders, and those who refuse, we will continue to combat vigorously,” he said.

When questioned about ongoing attacks, Badaru explained, “These attacks occur in local governments with forests. The attackers use motorcycles to raid and retreat into the forests. We have now deployed technology to detect and address these threats preemptively. We are committed to continuing our efforts and ensuring that the successes of the past year are sustained and expanded in the coming year.”

Badaru also mentioned that President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of additional military personnel to bolster the military’s capabilities. Furthermore, the President has mandated the full deployment of technology to eradicate insurgency in the country.

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