The Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Aniedi Edet, has said that the inability of the agency to source raw materials locally for the production of arms and ammunition has been a major setback in combating insecurity in the country.
Gen Edet disclosed this to newsmen after his assessment tour of facilities at the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday.
He said, “As you know, DICON is involved in the production of military and defence hard wares to sustain the armed forces and other security agencies in the country. But we have been importing the raw materials, and it takes a lot of time for delivery by the foreign companies. Such delays affect our response to insecurity across the country.
Insecurity may prevent Nigeria from achieving SDGs 2030 – IPCR
Insecurity may prevent Nigeria from achieving SDGs 2030 – IPCR
“But having realised that we can get all the raw materials we are looking for from NMDC, like lead, copper and brass, we have resolved to look inward in 2024 to get these materials.”
Earlier, the Director General of NMDC, Professor Linus Asuquo, noted that the collaboration would be in the interest of peace and security of the country, adding that DICON was in the right place and that the centre was always ready to provide them with materials.
He noted that, “You will realise that this collaboration is long overdue, but given the right funding, this collaboration is the best thing to happen to this country in 2024.”
