THE LOCAL DEFENSE INDUSTRY EPISODE 1

Following the last US secretary of state visit to Nigeria he said "US will sell Weapons to Nigeria if Nigeria have the money and the technical know how" , but no sooner than later, a Congress man Tom Marino sent him a letter stating reasons why the US shouldn't offer Nigeria assistance in our ongoing fight against insurgency. He accused Nigeria of extra judicial killings reported by amnesty international the one we know well the US army is guilty off. It was in 2013 when USA refused to sell us weapons and also blocked an arm deal we had with Israel, Nigerian took it to the media crying over it saying things like; the USA aiding terrorism and doesn't want Nigerian military victory against the Boko Haram Sect.

Nigerians have to know that our reliance on US weapons and technical support have cost us a lot, from losing gallant men to weapons and even civilian casualties. We had to turn to Russia, Belarus China etc, to seek for sophisticated weapons and arms. It was after then we started landing the sect huge blows and of course not we cannot get back the men we lost but we are getting back some weapons and our cities from the hands of the terrorist insurgents.

The popular proverb "if you fail to plan you plan to fail" have explained the quagmire we have been enmeshed in. If we had fortified our local defense industry, majority of this wouldn't have happened but because of our Nonchalant attitudes coupled with politicians and generals pocketing the money for defense we are in this tight spot.

The defense industry corporation of Nigeria (DICON) was primarily established to produce small arms and ammunition for the use of the Nigeria security agencies. The industry established in 1964 with the help of a west German company provided technical expertise in setting up a factory in kaduna.
But fast forward to recent times DICON still producing what they were primarily established for "light arms" until recently we were still importing bullet rounds, helmets and even vest, webbings and even camouflage uniform in large numbers.


Industrialization is a take off Into the advanced world. If we had a modest local industry, equipments which are blocked by external countries can be sourced for internally and used to combat this challenging security issues.

Furthermore, the world is a big market and a country seeking recognizance must tap into the market .
Also a modest industry reduces unemployment and improves human development index as staff can work in both defense and manufacturing industry.


Looking at our African counterpart in the south "South Africa", the South African defense industry is unarguably one of the best in Africa if not the best producing and exporting their products within and beyond Africa and outside Africa. Looking at Pakistan, India and Brazil local industry although measuring up to them we are in a distant low position, but with good foresight and investment we can and will measure up in no time.


Now how do we turn the defense industry to the one of our dream? A question more than a rhetoric!


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DICON is dead because of our useless politicians who embezzled funds meant for defence. Even the military hierarchy is not spared because the appointment for Director of DICON is a bribe through thing. They settle top officers to help push name to the president.

We all need to sit up and fight this corruption thing in Nigeria for us to move ahead.