By Charles Pemu 
Nigeria spent a staggering N804.10 billion on the importation of arms, ammunition, and their parts between 2020 and the second quarter of 2025, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This surging import bill, which hit an astronomical peak of N520.02 billion in 2024, is raising alarm over foreign exchange depletion and the nation’s dangerous reliance on external security suppliers.
Despite efforts by the Federal Government to boost local defense manufacturing, the data reveals that dependence on foreign imports remains dominant:
- 2020: N29.24bn
- 2021: N72.50bn
- 2022: N28.24bn
- 2023: N127.16bn
- 2024: N520.02bn (Highest importation in the five-year period)
- H1 2025: N26.95bn
The 2024 surge was particularly dramatic, with the second half of the year accounting for over N508bn in imports. Even with the new Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 signed by President Bola Tinubu, the import trend in 2025 indicates that reforms are off to a slow start.
Stakeholders Push for Indigenous Defense Industry
Local manufacturers, industry leaders, and economic experts are intensifying calls for deep collaboration between the Armed Forces and domestic producers, stressing that localizing arms production is a strategic necessity.
1. Sovereignty and Security: Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, emphasized that self-reliance is crucial for both external sovereignty and internal security. He noted that dependence on foreign suppliers exposes Nigeria to political pressures and potential arms embargoes, citing a time when “some modern nations refused to sell arms to us.”
2. Economic Stability and Forex Retention: Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), affirmed that local production is the “way to go anytime and any day.” He argued that building domestic capacity helps retain foreign exchange and makes the country “a lot more secure, a lot more confident.” Ajayi-Kadir concurred, lamenting that scarce forex is being spent on ammunition instead of being channeled into purchasing raw materials and spare parts for productive inputs.
3. Research and Education Reform: Segun Kuti-George, National Vice President of the National Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), linked the high import bill to weak local research. He urged a serious review of the educational system, advocating for a shift from theoretical dissertations to applied research where science and engineering graduates produce machines and practical prototypes.
DICON’s Repositioning and the 2027 Goal
The DICON Act 2023 was designed to reposition the state-controlled firm to operate subsidiaries and attract private capital into the defense sector.
Following the new law, DICON announced a significant $2 billion partnership with SP Offshore Nigeria Limited in July 2025, aimed at expanding local manufacturing. DICON Director-General, Major General Babatunde Alaya, stated that this partnership aligns with the government’s goal of achieving self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing by 2027.
However, stakeholders caution that meeting this goal requires more than legislation. It demands stronger funding for research, the inclusion of private manufacturers like those in MAN and NASSI into DICON’s supply chain, and a fundamental overhaul of the nation’s science and vocational education to build a pipeline of innovators.