Why local defence production remains low in Nigeria– Balogun
By Sumaila Ogbaje
The failure of Nigeria to use the capacity of its Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in 60 years has hampered the nations journey into self-sufficiency in defence capabilities.
This position was made known by the Chairman, Equipment and Protective Applications Nigerian Limited (EPAIL), Kola Balogun, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Balogun, who is also the Secretary, Defense Industrial Association of Nigeria (DIAN), said the journey DICON after 60 years has not been impressive in terms of output.
“Now, looking backward, 60 years down the line of DICON journey to where we are today, has not been impressive by virtue of what has been their output.
“Output is the sense of what have they been able to come out with compare them with their counterpart in China and Brazil.
“I am very sure they set up Nigeria’s DICON and Brazil almost at the same time and if you look at what Brazil has been able to do with its own, it is very, very impressive.
“It is mind-blowing that they are producing helicopter, they are producing so many parts of defense target across the world and, we are supposed to have the similar threshold with that same organisation in Brazil.
“But however, the reverse is the case. One of those things I have realised is that some of us don’t believe in ourselves that we can do it, that we have what it takes to develop ourselves,’’ he said.
Balogun said that Nigeria had started realising that it must be decisive and determined to change things, adding that there were certain levels of sacrifice that everyone must make.
According to him, 60 years down the line, Nigeria is not producing helicopter or any major arsenal of war, which are things it must have to change its games plan.
“My exposure has revealed to me that we cannot trade with the whole world and get it right.
“We have to choose few partners while we come back home and define our standard and define a framework of licensing those who are going to be responsible for production of arm and ammunition and some other gadgets.
“We must introduce license in order to create a streamline of monopoly and the monopolies aspect of it is to create markets for them.
“It’s not a market for everyone. It has to be from the willingness to partake in the defence industry, must have financial capability; must be knowledge based; have footprint of what defence is all about’’ he added.
The expert said that Nigeria must be able to record astronomical growth in the next 10 years with the new DICON law that had birthed another private sector driven defence industry.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the act into law, adding that Nigeria must harness the opportunities to develop its defence capabilities locally. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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