Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has called for the accelerated development of indigenous African technologies and localized defence manufacturing to reduce foreign military dependence and secure continental strategic autonomy. The directive was issued during a high-level operational tour of advanced engineering and manufacturing facilities in East Africa.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 21 October 2026
Time: 21:15 WAT
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
During his official working visit to the Republic of Rwanda, the Army Chief inspected the Rwanda Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation (REMCO) in Kigali, evaluating specialized industrial processes in precision engineering, metal casting, and military equipment fabrication.
According to a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the engagement emphasized the critical need for African armed forces to harness homegrown expertise, scale research and development investments, and forge robust technological partnerships to counter complex asymmetric threats.
Established in 2018, REMCO functions as a state-owned enterprise specializing in precision engineering and equipment maintenance, demonstrating how localized industrial capacity can insulate national security architectures from global supply chain vulnerabilities and foreign embargoes.
Integrating these industrial insights directly supports Nigeria's domestic defence-industrial ambitions, particularly through the operations of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), aiming to enhance equipment maintenance availability, reduce procurement lead times, and secure sustainable logistical pipelines.
Strengthening localized manufacturing aligns directly with the current command vision to transform the Nigerian Army into a highly adaptable, combat-ready force capable of sustaining prolonged high-tempo operations without relying on external supply chains.
Advanced local production capacities also enhance regional peace support operations by ensuring that deployed tactical units maintain uninterrupted access to vital operational equipment, replacement parts, and technical maintenance support across diverse operational theaters.
Defence leadership will utilize insights from the REMCO tour to inform ongoing technological upgrades within domestic military manufacturing facilities, setting clear benchmarks for operational self-reliance ahead of future strategic procurement cycles.
🏷 Tags: Defence & Security, Nigerian Army, COAS, Indigenous Production, DICON, Rwanda, Military Technology, Strategic Autonomy
#ZigDiariesDefence #NigerianArmy #IndigenousProduction #DefenceTechnology #AfricaSecurity #COAS
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