Nigeria’s Defence Attaché to India, Navy Commodore Olusegun Ferreira has said that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) was being repositioned to emerge as a notable arms and ammunition hub for African countries judging from current efforts of the management team.
According to a statement by the DICON’S Public Relations Officer, Maj. Emmanuel Adeniyi (rtd), the Corporation under the leadership of the DG, Maj-Gen. Bamidele Ogunkale, is poised to become the pride of the nation and a rallying point in African arms production if weapon Procurement Policy was put in place and strictly adhered to.
Commodore Ferreira who was on a visit to DICON Headquarters and its Ordnance Factory, opined that he was better informed about the current activities of DICON, having listened to a detailed brief about the Corporation from the DG and also having gone on facility tour of its industrial domain.
He said part of his function in his host country was to seek possible areas of collaboration between Nigeria and his host country on production of military equipment or hardware with special emphasis on transfer of technology as well as training of our people.
He added that Nigeria and India had a lot in common as member of Commonwealth of Nations, stressing that there was need to compare note with India especially in the area of proposed Military Industrial Complex aimed at catering for the need of the Nation’s Armed Forces and other security agencies.
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His words, “India Defence Industry is quite vibrant; presently the government is looking for private partners to drive its Defence Industry. A drive aimed at indigenization has been their focus and India Navy is at the forefront of such drive”
Ferreira further stated that he wanted to be on the same page with DICON in its quest to reposition to a greater height, stressing that there would be no doubt a clear focus of what the premier industry should be expecting when he returned to India.
The DA recalled that when some dignitaries from Bangladesh Defence domain visited Nigeria, the Acting President Yemi Osinbanjo indicated interest to partner with their country, adding that both countries share the same economic climate in terms of GDP but the nation has been able to achieve measureable success in terms of production of military hardware.
Director General, Major general Ogunkale had earlier given a detailed brief about the current activities of DICON aimed at repositioning the premier industry to greater height stated cashing in on the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari to make the Corporation the pride of the nation.
According to him, owing to current success stories emanating from the Corporation, a lot of international defence related companies have indicated readiness to partner with DICON.
He however stated that the Public Private Partnership unit created as he assumed leadership of DICON was to streamline the activities of such international partners.
Ogunkale noted that technology transfer and training were germane to the Corporations mapped out strategy, adding that the Corporation would be ready to partner with international defence companies so far they meet DICON’s requirements.
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