Nigeria Moves Toward Regional Leadership in Military Industry With New Deal

State-owned Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has signed a memorandum of understanding with EIB Group to expand the country’s defense manufacturing capabilities.

Announced at DICON’s Kaduna headquarters, the agreement aims to establish production lines for autonomous systems, tactical gear, and cyber solutions, according to local media.

Planned outputs include combat drones, ballistic protection, personnel uniforms, high-grade ordnance, and secure software.

The partnership will also involve efforts to transfer technological skills to the domestic workforce, increasing the number of engineers and technicians supporting Nigeria’s robotics, aerospace, and digital defense sectors.

EIB Group’s cooperation is backed by its subsidiaries Briech UAS and Poctova, positioning the enterprise to help launch the West African country’s military innovation network.

“We are bringing the full strength of EIB Group’s innovation ecosystem to this collaboration with DICON,” said Bright Echefu, chairman of EIB Group.

“Through Briech UAS, we will scale production of world-class drones, while Poctova will drive the development of secure, indigenous software for surveillance and battlefield intelligence.

“Our goal is to establish a defence technology hub, a ‘Defence Silicon Valley’ right here in Nigeria.”

‘Beyond Manufacturing’

DICON said that the agreement advances Nigeria’s push for defense self-sufficiency and positions the country as a regional leader in military technology.

The move is expected to save billions in external spending while also reinforcing national security.

Maj. Gen. Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, director general at DICON, called the deal a “transformational shift” that builds on a 2023 framework that restructured the agency to encourage private-sector collaboration.

“Our mission is to ensure that the Nigerian Armed Forces are powered by Nigerian-built technology,” Alaya said.

“This partnership goes beyond manufacturing. By eliminating reliance on foreign ‘black box’ technologies, we are securing our sovereignty and advancing what we call the DICON evolution.”