The Federal Government says it could save about ₦5.06 trillion annually by cutting down on the importation of defence equipment, as it steps up efforts to promote local manufacturing in the sector.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohamed Matawalle, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the unveiling of the X-Shield Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle, produced by Nigerian defence firm X-Shield.
Matawalle also revealed plans by the Federal Government to end the importation of defence equipment within the next five years.
Represented by the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Alaya, the minister said the unveiling marked a major step in aligning national security needs with indigenous industrial capacity.
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He said the project reflects the outcome of DICON’s joint venture with the private sector, which led to the development of an in-country designed and manufactured light tactical armoured vehicle, as well as locally armoured executive vehicles.
“This is just the beginning. Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria produces all required defence and security equipment locally. In two to five years, there will be no more importation,” Matawalle said.
Forest Conservation, Jobs, Export Potential
The minister pointed out that localising defence production would conserve foreign exchange, create skilled jobs, and position Nigeria as a regional hub for defence manufacturing.
He added that the vehicles were built to meet modern operational needs, including mobility, protection, adaptability, and survivability, while remaining cost-effective and suitable for local maintenance.
Matawalle commended X-Shield for its role in advancing Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
“The future of Nigeria’s defence and security capability will be built at home by Nigerian hands through trusted partnerships such as this,” he said.
Import Bill Highlights Urgency
The Chief Executive Officer of X-Shield, Charles Ibanga, said the company believes Nigeria can design, build, and sustain world-class armoured mobility solutions locally and competitively.
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ibanga said Nigeria’s spending on armoured vehicles in the last quarter of 2023 exceeded its fuel imports.
He noted that the country imported over ₦5.06 trillion worth of armoured vehicles, compared with ₦1.81 trillion spent on petrol, a difference of ₦3.25 trillion. According to him, armoured vehicles accounted for 35.87 per cent of total imports during the period.
Ibanga said the figures highlight the urgent need for local manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities.
He added that the Light Tactical Armoured Vehicle and civilian armoured platforms demonstrate Nigeria’s growing capacity, as demand continues to rise across security agencies, infrastructure operators and the private sector.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
