🇳🇬 DICON Partners Turkish Firm to Boost Indigenous Military Production in Nigeria

 

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria has formalised a strategic deal with Turkish defence giant ASFAT, paving the way for local armoured vehicle manufacturing, ammunition supply, and advanced weapons systems production.

Zig Diaries Defence

Date: Thursday, 7 August 2025
Time: 16:00 WAT
Location: 📍Abuja, Nigeria

The Federal Government has signed a landmark agreement with Turkish defence firm ASFAT to strengthen Nigeria’s indigenous military production and deepen strategic cooperation in the defence industry.

The agreement—brokered by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON)—will enable the local manufacture of armoured personnel carriers, supply of military hardware and ammunition, and future co-production of modern weapon systems with Turkish expertise.

The deal was signed during the recent visit of ASFAT’s leadership to Nigeria, where the company committed to supporting DICON in achieving its mandate of repositioning the nation’s defence production capacity.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, said the collaboration was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving national security through indigenous capacity-building.

 “The renewed efforts to strengthen DICON’s capabilities are already yielding results, and this partnership is a major milestone in our local content drive,” he noted.

This is contained in a statement by the Personal Assistant to the Minister on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil.

Director General of DICON, Major General Aniedi Edet, described the agreement as a turning point in Nigeria’s march towards industrial self-reliance in defence. “This partnership is not just about transactions; it’s about transferring critical knowledge, technology and skills to our people,” he said.

ASFAT’s delegation also inspected ongoing DICON operations and expressed readiness to deploy technical teams and provide machinery for joint production processes to commence in the coming months.

The initiatives also involve the stockpiling of ammunition for immediate and sustained supply to the Nigerian Armed Forces, paramilitary agencies, and partner African nations’ militaries.

The Minister expressed gratitude to all partners for their enduring trust in Nigeria and commended the Armed Forces for their resilience and professionalism in the face of evolving security challenges.

🏷️Tags: DICON, ASFAT, Defence Industry, Nigerian Military, Bello Matawalle
#DICON #ASFAT #MadeInNigeria #DefenceProduction #NigeriaTurkey #MilitaryPartnership #ZigDefence