The Chief Executive Officer of D7G, Osman Chennar, expressed commitment to executing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu particularly in the transfer of advanced technology to Nigeria.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Headquarters Complex of DICON-D7G Nigeria Limited in Abuja on Thursday, he said the Company’s platform is providing employment to skilled retired military officers and men in factory operations, administration and logistics in defence equipment production in Nigeria.
He said DICON-D7G Nigeria Limited were committed to the provision of employment opportunities to encourage the young generation of engineering graduates and computer scientists to drive reverse engineering in weapon systems and advanced armament technology.
Chennar said in 4 months time, the Company’s ammunition production line for 7.62mm x 39mm with capacity for 50 million rounds per annum will arrive in Nigeria.
Additionally, he said, they would commence producing DG 103 rifles which are equivalent to AK 103 rifles in the next one month as the raw materials for these weapons are already in Nigeria.
He said they will be constructing a military Jetty base in Lagos for the berthing of vessels, with an additional area for the building of ships, production, assembly, and storage of defence equipment, covering a land area of 160,000 square meters for staff quarters, training school, restaurants, supermarket, hospital, guest house, recreational facility, D7G Military Club with complete Independent Power Plant.
He said they would also establish the first African production and assembly factory for arms (DG 103 rifles and others) and ammunition, building of Naval Military ships ( 10-100 meters) by TAIS Shipyard of Turkiye, drones, anti-drone jammers, jammers, Ground Surveillance radars, armored vehicles and UAVs.
He said thwy were also going into the assembly of Semi-knocked Down (SKD) and Completely Knocked Down (CKD) of arms, vehicles, drones, helicopters, UAVs, jammers and anti-drones jammers, binoculars and Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), mine sweepers all of NATO standard.
The Director General of DICON, Maj Gen BI Alaya, said the occasion signified a landmark achievement and the physical manifestation of a bold new vision for both the Corporation and the nation at large towards enhancing the country’s defence industrial base.
He said the development of a robust Military Industrial Complex had far-reaching effects on a nation’s economy.
Notable among the effects, he said, were job creation and skills development, technology transfer and innovation, import substitution and foreign exchange savings, industrial development and supply chains, as well as export potential, among others.
He said the commissioning represented the success of one such strategic collaboration between DICON and its private sector partner, D7G—a firm with a proven track record in engineering, innovation, and defence technology.
The DG emphasized that the partnership went beyond business as it alignes with the Presidential Executive Order on “Nigerian First.”
“Today marks more than just the unveiling of a building; it symbolises the dawn of a new era in our national defence and industrial capabilities. It is the culmination of strategic foresight, patriotic collaboration, and unwavering commitment to the security and self-reliance of our beloved nation. In recent years, the need for Nigeria to take charge of its defence manufacturing capacity has become more urgent and evident. Our geopolitical realities, security challenges, and economic aspirations compel us to look inward to develop, produce, and sustain the hardware that protects our sovereignty. Furthermore, this initiative would reduce the nation’s overreliance on foreign companies/nations for its military and security hardware,” he said.
Minister of State for Defence Dr. Muhammed Bello Matawalle, who was the Special Guest of Honour lauded the collaboration which was aimed at safeguarding the nation.
He said in today’s world of complex security challenges, no single entity no matter how capable can do it alone.
He said the defence industry demands collaboration and the highest level of integrity
The Minister lauded the partners for the courage and commitment in forging the alliance, saying it comes at a critical time the country is enhancing its defence capability
He said the collaboration would play a key role in localizing the production of strategic defence equipment.
In attendance at the event were the Service Chiefs, members of the National Assembly, representatives of security agencies, industry stakeholders, and senior military officers and other top dignitaries.
