The Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Matawalle, MON, has announced plans to commence the production of Military and defence hardware.
He made this known during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Steel Development. This took place on Monday, November 9, 2025, at the Ship House in Abuja.
Details of Agreement
The agreement formalises a long-anticipated partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL).
Describing the collaboration as “a bold and visionary move that aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Dr. Matawalle said the partnership marks a turning point in Nigeria’s industrial and defence history. He noted that the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between resource availability and technological application. This aims to enhance local military production.
“For too long, Nigeria has depended on foreign nations for essential defence equipment. Yet we have all it takes — the raw materials, the human capital, and the expertise to manufacture these products locally.
“This partnership reaffirms Mr. President’s directive that we must rely on ourselves. We must build our own capacity and secure our nation through innovation.” Dr. Matawalle said.
On his part, the Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Audu Abubakar, highlighted that the once-dormant Ajaokuta Steel Complex is being repositioned. It is aiming to be a key contributor to national security and industrial growth. He revealed that under the new agreement, Ajaokuta’s engineering workshops will be repurposed for the production of helmets, vests, bullets, and rifles.
Dr. Audu further disclosed that a dedicated portion of land will be allocated for the construction of a Military-Industrial Complex. He described it as a major milestone toward establishing Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
