The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has assured that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) would meet the demands of the military and other security agencies.
The PUNCH reports that Matawalle said this at the DICON’s end-of-year celebration and Director-General’s Productivity Award ceremony on Friday in Kaduna.
He emphasised that the recent assent of the DICON Act 2023 by President Bola Tinubu had paved the way for the corporation to strengthen Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
Matawalle said the defence ministry had given a lot of tasks to the DICON’s Director-general, adding that he was equal to the task.
The minister promised that within a limited time, they would come to celebrate the full production of arms within the country.
Matawalle emphasised that the defence ministry was trying to limit procurements outside the country.
He, therefore, said the DICON’s Act 2023, recently signed into law by the President, was working effectively.
The minister said, “Any requirements of the military or other security agencies have to come to DICON for supply.
“Before now, we send our money to other countries, devaluing our currency, which makes the dollar go higher because we don’t have a productivity plan.
“Today, we thank God that with the leadership of the DICON’s director-general, the industry is seeing a lot of changes.”
Matawalle said that DICON was expected to reach its peak in military and paramilitary requirements, particularly in the production of arms and ammunition.
He said that he had never believed that DICON could produce 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
“Today, DICON is able to produce so many rounds of ammunition and forward to the military. Our target is to produce 300 million rounds of ammunition.
“We will also be producing other military equipment like MRAPs, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other equipment for the military and paramilitary agencies,” he added.
Matawalle assured Nigerians that in three to four months, DICON would meet the demands of the military and other security agencies.
Speaking further, Matawalle said the end-of-year celebration and productivity award was supposed to be held annually so as to engender motivation to the staffers.
He commended the director-general, his management staff and other workers for their dedication and hard work.
(The PUNCH)
