₦airaland Forum

DICON-D7G is a manufacturer of arms, ammunition, and other military hardware for the Nigerian Armed Forces and other friendly African countries.

DICON-D7G is participating as a major sponsor of the ongoing AFRIDEX in Lagos, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence industrial base and advancing the nation’s drive towards self-reliance in military technology, equipment, and production.

Through its participation, DICON-D7G underscores the importance of strategic partnerships, indigenous innovation, technology transfer, and local manufacturing in building a sustainable military-industrial complex capable of meeting Nigeria’s defence and security requirements.

The DICON-D7G platform represents a strategic effort to bridge the gap between defence requirements and indigenous industrial capacity by promoting collaboration, investment, and the development of local expertise. Its participation at AFRIDEX provides an important opportunity to connect stakeholders across the defence, manufacturing, technology, and investment sectors in pursuit of a stronger and more self-sufficient Nigerian defence industry.

As a major sponsor, DICON-D7G recognises AFRIDEX as a vital platform for showcasing indigenous capabilities, facilitating strategic partnerships, and encouraging investments that will accelerate local defence production. These efforts align with the broader national objective of reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, conserving foreign exchange, creating skilled employment opportunities, and strengthening Nigeria’s strategic autonomy.

DICON-D7G says it remains committed to supporting initiatives that translate Nigeria’s technical expertise and industrial potential into practical defence capabilities. By fostering collaboration among government, industry, research institutions, and technology partners, the platform seeks to contribute to a resilient military-industrial ecosystem that supports national security and sustainable economic growth.

DICON-D7G’s participation at AFRIDEX reflects its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s transition from dependence on imported defence solutions to greater indigenous capacity, innovation, and production.

The ultimate goal is to establish a military-industrial complex that not only meets national defence needs but also positions Nigeria as a competitive contributor to Africa’s defence and security industry.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Logistics and Marketing at DICON-D7G, retired Brigadier General Morakinyo Akinkunle Abiodun, said: “Nigeria has made progress in the production of arms and ammunition over the last five years. The DG103 is a weapon manufactured at the DICON factory in Kaduna by D7G, and we also assemble other weapons. Our aim is to manufacture more weapons locally in Nigeria.

“Nigeria is making progress, and it should become more self-sufficient within the next 10 years rather than relying on imports. There are still complaints from soldiers in the North about shortages of arms and ammunition. What do you think should be done about this? It is one thing to produce weapons and another to secure funding for the armed forces to purchase the quantities required. Weapons cannot be supplied if they are not paid for. Our responsibility is to produce them, and we are ready to sell them to the military. The military and defence sectors everywhere are serious businesses that require substantial funding. The government must make funds available to the military and the services to ensure they have what they need.



“On how AFRIDEX can translate into practical solutions to address challenges beyond showcasing defence equipment, and the measures in place to ensure weapons do not fall into the hands of terrorists, he said: ‘Acquiring the weapons is one thing. Once we sell them to the services, it is their responsibility to safeguard them. We maintain and repair the weapons, but their protection lies with the military services.’

“When asked whether D7G has the capacity to produce all the weapons Nigeria needs, he said: ‘We are producing the weapons Nigeria requires. Most of our rifles use 7.62 × 39 mm ammunition, which we produce in Kaduna. Our company will launch a military jetty in Ojo, Lagos, in November. We will be manufacturing, assembling, and producing tanks, armoured personnel carriers (APCs), boats, medium-range anti-tank missiles (MRATs), drones, and other equipment. We will be in a good position in the long run. We have to believe in our country.’”