By Sumaila Ogbaje
Retired Maj.-Gen. Nnaemeka Maduegbunam, former Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), has urged Nigeria to prioritise indigenous technology to achieve self-reliance in defence production.
Maduegbunam made the call on Thursday, at the public presentation of his book, “We Can Do It – Towards Nigeria’s Self-Reliance in Science and Technology,” in Abuja.
He said the revitalisation of DICON demonstrated that Nigeria possessed the human and technical capacity to develop and maintain sophisticated defence equipment without excessive dependence on foreign vendors.
Maduegbunam said foreign vendors had demanded between eight billion and 12 billion dollars to refurbish DICON, but the organisation was eventually revived with about one billion dollars by looking inward.
He said many equipment challenges could be resolved locally at relatively low cost if the country harnessed its engineers, technicians and available resources.
According to him, Nigeria must also overcome the misconception that valuable technology can simply be transferred by foreign partners without significant investment.
He said the country’s experience at DICON showed that indigenous capacity, discipline, innovation and sustained institutional support were critical to achieving self-reliance.
The former DICON boss said the organisation also demonstrated its capacity to refurbish and produce defence equipment, including weapons, while saving the country substantial resources.
He said one of the interventions at DICON had saved the country about five billion naira, stressing that “we can do it” should become a national mindset.
In his remarks, Prof. Bathlomew Nnaji, former Minister of Power and Chairman of the occasion, said Maduegbunam’s achievement at DICON demonstrated the ingenuity and brilliance within the Nigerian military.
Nnaji said DICON was critical to Nigeria’s survival and progress, adding that local production of defence equipment would help reduce costs, conserve foreign exchange and strengthen national technological capacity.
Also, former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Gen. Martin-Luther Agwai, described Maduegbunam as a knowledgeable and innovative officer who contributed significantly to the Armed Forces and the nation.
Agwai said the revitalisation of DICON involved important political and diplomatic dimensions, particularly the refurbishment of G3 rifles, which he said subsequently played roles beyond Nigeria’s immediate defence requirements.
In a message, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, commended Maduegbunam for promoting indigenous solutions to the Army’s equipment and technical challenges.
Shaibu, represented by the Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NAEME), Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Adereti, said the army’s pursuit of home-grown solutions was consistent with its drive to reduce dependence on external solutions while strengthening local capacity in innovation, maintenance and repair.
The Corps Commander, speaking in his personal capacity, recalled Maduegbunam’s initiative to modify a mobile field kitchen, describing it as a practical demonstration of how operational requirements could be converted into indigenous technical solutions.
He said the NAEME Corps regarded “We Can Do It” as more than a book title, but as a mindset embodying self-belief, innovation and determination.
The Corps Commander also announced a pledge to purchase 20 copies of the book on behalf of the COAS and the Corps, while personally committing to five copies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former defence and army chiefs including retired Gen. Lucky Irabor, retired Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and Tukur Buratai, among other serving and retired officers as well as traditional rulers, graced the book presentation. (NAN)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola