By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria’s defence manufacturers are set to take centre stage across Africa, following new partnerships forged at the recently concluded African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit.
The Defence Industries Association of Nigeria (DIAN) said the summit had opened a fresh frontier for homegrown military equipment to compete across the continent, positioning Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s defence market.
DIAN Secretary-General, Kola Balogun, described the summit as “a major booster” for Nigeria’s defence industry, noting that memoranda of understanding, catalogue exchanges, and high-level follow-up discussions had already paved the way for deeper regional collaboration.
“With stronger West African and continental partnerships, we can now project Nigerian-made equipment to a wider market. To our surprise, some of our products were even more competitive than foreign alternatives. This is Africa’s chance to depend on itself rather than always looking outside,” Balogun said.
He stressed that Nigerian defence products compare favourably in both quality and cost, a competitiveness he said would reduce Africa’s reliance on expensive imports from abroad.
Balogun praised the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for convening the summit, describing it as a bold initiative that has placed Nigeria firmly in the global spotlight.
He, however, urged continuity in public–private partnerships within the sector, warning that political instability and abandoned projects could deter vital investment.
“Once a PPP is signed, huge investments and overheads are already committed. Successor governments must uphold such agreements to ensure continuity, confidence, and sustainability,” he cautioned.
The DIAN chief further revealed that more local manufacturers are seeking to join the association, a move he said would expand Nigeria’s production capacity and cement its reputation as a hub for world-class defence solutions.
He also appealed to African governments to prioritise patronage of locally made military hardware, arguing that this would not only strengthen continental security but also create jobs, reduce idleness, and shrink recruitment opportunities for insurgent groups.
