President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday said the passion to see the speedy growth of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Nigeria’s Military Industrial Complex motivated him to sign the DICON Act 2023 into law within the first six months of his administration.
He said with the Act, the right environment has been created for DICON to be equipped with modern automated production lines and production systems. “I am happy to see the progress towards establishing our first uncrewed or unmanned aerial and land vehicle automated production lines”.
President Tinubu made the disclosure at the 60th anniversary of DICON and the inaugural Africa Defence Industries Conference in Abuja.
According to the President, these lofty steps of DICON would indeed bring Nigeria closer to the rest of the world, and no doubt significantly impact current efforts to defeat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes in the country.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume told the gathering that national security remains a top priority of his administration, adding that the contemporary security challenges we face as a nation require tying into the concept of the Whole of Government and Society Approach to resolve them decisively.
“With the signing of the DICON Act 2023, we mark a new era for DICON, positioning it as the arrowhead of our Military Industrial Complex, providing a robust framework to drive our strategic objectives in defence manufacturing and technology and supporting the modernisation of our Armed Forces to address national and subre-gional security challenges.
“As we celebrate this diamond jubilee, we also embrace a renewed vision for the future, aligned with our administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” The DICON Evolution Strategy and Road Map 2030, based on the DICON Act 2023 that we launch today, aims to bridge performance gaps in our Military Industrial Complex and reposition DICON as a global player, as was long envisaged by our founding fathers”.
Tinubu recalled that in 1966, barely two years after its establishment, DICON’s ammunition production contributed significantly to the preservation of Nigeria during the civil war, leading to the unity we now enjoy. “Today, DICON has the most significant market potential in Africa and is repositioned to leverage the vast potential of the private sector to pursue innovations and technologies that will ramp up our indigenous defence productions”.
He observed that “as we march into the future, international collaborations will play a vital role in our success.
“The Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference, which I am honoured to declare open today, is a platform for forging strategic partnerships to enhance our capabilities and promote regional security. I invite our international partners to join us as we work together to build a safer and more prosperous Africa”.
The president noted that DICON’s journey over the past sixty years is a story of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to national service.
He said “As we embark on the next chapter, I call on all stakeholders, our armed forces, industry partners, and the international community, to support and participate in implementing the DICON Evolution Strategy and Road Map 2030”.
In an opening remarks, the minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle stated that over the past 60 years, DICON has made significant contributions to Nigeria’s defence architecture, providing the Nigerian Armed Forces with essential equipment and supporting the development of military capabilities.
The minister said the recent enactment of the DICON Act 2023 by President Tinubu, marks “a turning point in the history of the country’s defence sector. This new legal framework empowers DICON to operate with greater autonomy and efficiency, enhancing its ability to meet the evolving defence needs of our nation”.
He added that event serves as the platform for the launch of DICON’s Vision and Strategy Road Map 2030. “This strategic plan is aligned with the President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and is designed to position DICON as a leader in defence innovation, not just in Nigeria but across the African continent. The roadmap outlines clear objectives for strengthening our national security, promoting sustainable development, and driving economic diversification through defence sector industrialization, digitization, and innovation”.
Meanwhile, he expressed excitement about the launch of the Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference, saying this is a groundbreaking initiative that will bring together defence experts, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across Africa and beyond.
Also speaking, the Director General of DICON, Major General Aniedi Edet applauded the audience, pointing out that “DICON 60th anniversarynniversary is more than a celebration, pointing out that it is “a call to action to believe in ourselves, to build that future that we have always wanted for our country and DICON, to plant that tree that will flourish in the coming years”.
Highlights of the event was the unveiling of a book titled: DICON @60 forging the pathway to indigenous and introduction of the new DICON logo and Strategy document.
