DICON Bill To Aid Local Industry For Defence Gadgets Growth – Minister

The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar, has said the newly assented 2023 Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill by President Bola Tinubu will facilitate research, development and production in the defence sector and aid the growth of the local industry in the manufacturing of defence gadgets and equipment.

The 2023 DICON Bill, sponsored by the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson will provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for the regulation of the manufacturing, distribution, storage, and disposal of defence articles in Nigeria.

The Defence Minister stated this during a visit and tour of the manufacturing facility of Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited in Ogun State, in the company of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana and several other senior members of the Ministry.

Badaru commended the management of Equipment Protective and Application International Limited for its massive investment in local manufacturing of Defence Gadget and equipment, which includes: the bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, guard booths (armoured) and assembling of light Armoured Assault Vehicles.

Badaru expressed satisfaction with the level of investment and capacity in the company. 

He promised that the Ministry would encourage the company to do more to boost local manufacturing of defence gadgets and equipment in order to create more job opportunities for Nigerians in line with the agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“I am impressed and satisfied with this. Given time and patronage, I believe they can do more and more. With Ajaokuta Steel coming on board, we can see ourselves doing 70 to 80 per cent of the production locally,” he said.

The permanent secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Kana noted that the federal government is interested in deepening local production in the Defence industry and that he has been directed to prioritise local manufacturers to encourage investors and boost the economy through massive job creation in the sector.

In his welcome remarks, the chairman, Equipment & Protective Applications International Limited (EPAIL), Engr. Kola Balogun assured that the company has the capacity to meet all the defence equipment, surveillance systems and technological solutions. 

Balogun disclosed that EPAIL was established to deepen technology, research and development indigenously to service the ordinance and technological needs of the security agencies, armed forces and private security firms.

He stated that the company, though an indigenous company, is manufacturing in line with the best known global standards. 

Equipment and Protective Applications International Limited (EPAIL) is a member of the MOMAS Group of Companies and was established with the goal of advancing local technology research and development in order to provide effective security solutions to safeguard lives and properties.