Tinubu Reiterates Commitment to National Security
Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, reiterated his commitment to national security, stressing that it remained a top priority of his administration.
He also noted that the contemporary security challenges confronting the nation required tying into the concept of the whole of the government and society approach to resolve them decisively.
Tinubu said this while declaring open the maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference, with the theme: “Future Frontiers in Africa’s Defence Technology,” holding at Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja.
Africa Defence Industries Conference, is one of the activities lined up to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
Represented by Secretary to the Government of the federation, Senator George Akume, the president said 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.”
He said it would provide “a robust framework to drive our strategic objectives in defence manufacturing and technology and support the modernisation of our Armed Forces to address national and sub regional security challenges.”
This strategy, he added, aligned primarily with two key priorities of his renewed hope agenda – strengthening national security and accelerating economic diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, manufacturing, and innovation.
President Tinubu noted that the newly automated production lines for various categories of ammunition, mine resistant ambush patrol vehicles, armoured personnel carrier, drones, and unmanned ground vehicles, for instance, would provide the nation’s armed forces with advanced equipment tailored to the contemporary challenges, and providing troops with the required advantage over adversaries.
“Introducing the BAT A-1 specialised assault rifle and its production line will address small arms proliferation issues while equipping our security operatives with modern fighting capabilities.
“The proposed state-of-the-art micro motherboard processing facility will be the backbone of robotics and artificial intelligence innovations, leveraging resources from our newly inaugurated lithium development plant in Nasarawa State.”
In his remark, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, said the establishment of DICON in 1964 was a bold and visionary step towards self-reliance in Nigeria’s defence capabilities, and it has since become a vital pillar of our national security.
Matawalle also unveiled DICON’s vision and strategic road map 2030. This strategic plan, he said is designed to position DICON as a leader in defence innovation, not just in Nigeria but across the African continent.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa, said over the past six decades, the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria has played a vital role in safeguarding the nation’s security and sovereignty.
He added that from developing cutting-edge technology to training brave men and women in uniform, the industry has been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national defence.
Earlier, the Director General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Maj Gen Aniedi Edet, said DICON’s founding mission was to ensure Nigeria’s self-reliance in the provision of essential military hardware and armaments.
