Under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, Nigeria’s quest for self-reliance in defence production is taking on renewed urgency and tangible form. When he convened the second meeting of the DICON Governing Board on May 2, 2025, at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, it was more than a routine gathering; it was a reaffirmation of the administration’s commitment to transforming DICON into a world-class defence manufacturing hub capable of meeting the operational needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces and contributing to the nation’s security architecture.
That vision found dramatic expression in July 2025, when Dr. Matawalle unveiled the DICON–Vanquish Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) at the Ministry of Defence headquarters. Built in collaboration with Vanquish Industries Ltd, the new APC represents a decisive step toward indigenizing Nigeria’s military hardware. It is lightweight, rugged, mine-resistant, and equipped with advanced ballistic protection to withstand small arms fire and improvised explosive devices—attributes that make it ideal for the asymmetric warfare Nigeria faces in its counter-insurgency and internal security operations. Beyond its technical sophistication, the DICON–Vanquish APC is a bold statement of intent: that Nigeria possesses the talent, capacity, and resolve to design and manufacture its own military solutions. For Dr. Matawalle, it symbolises far more than an engineering milestone—it embodies the country’s transition from dependency to self-sufficiency, and from consumer to producer within the global defence ecosystem.
The unveiling was followed by another strategic milestone: the establishment of DICON–D7G, a joint venture that consolidates government and private sector expertise to expand Nigeria’s defence production base. Commissioned by Dr. Matawalle at a colourful ceremony in Asokoro, Abuja, the venture is designed to build assembly lines for small arms and ammunition at DICON’s factory in Kaduna, while also setting up a showroom, research facilities, and training programmes to nurture local talent. The scale of ambition is vast—ranging from the production of rifles, machine guns, and mortars to the assembly of armoured vehicles, drones, and electro-optic systems. By integrating technology transfer and sustainable local sourcing, the partnership aims to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign contractors, conserve foreign exchange, and create a self-sustaining defence-industrial ecosystem capable of serving both domestic and regional markets.
Dr. Matawalle’s stewardship of DICON has been marked by pragmatism and partnership. Working closely with Major General B.I. Alaya, the Director General of DICON, he has encouraged innovation, strengthened collaboration with private firms such as Vanquish Industries and D7G Nigeria Limited, and repositioned DICON as a hub for indigenous research, development, and production. This approach aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises security, economic diversification, and technological advancement as pillars of national development. The Minister’s efforts also build on the DICON Act 2023, which grants the corporation greater autonomy to pursue industrial and commercial ventures that support national defence.
Yet, the push for transformation has not been without challenges. The unfortunate explosion at DICON’s Kaduna ordnance facility in September 2025, which claimed a life and injured several others, tested the institution’s resilience. Dr. Matawalle’s prompt visit to the site and his directive for a thorough investigation demonstrated a leadership style defined by accountability and responsiveness—qualities essential for sustaining public trust in a sector as sensitive as defence production.
Through these milestones and setbacks alike, one theme has remained constant: a determination to build a defence industry that Nigerians can be proud of. Under Matawalle, DICON is not only producing armoured vehicles and munitions but also building partnerships for advanced systems such as drones, surveillance radars, and thermal imaging devices. The corporation is nurturing an industrial base that creates jobs, drives innovation, and strengthens Nigeria’s capacity to respond to modern security threats.
Step by step, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria is fulfilling its founding mandate of producing arms, ammunition, and equipment for the country’s military and security forces. Under Dr. Bello Matawalle’s guidance, it is evolving into a symbol of national resilience and technological confidence—a place where policy meets production, where innovation meets patriotism, and where Nigeria’s long-held dream of defence self-reliance is steadily becoming a reality.
– Dahiru Bashir Hassan is a security researcher and writes from the FCT
