Vinicius International has confirmed plans to commence construction of a security hardware production facility in Nigeria, marking a significant step toward localising defence manufacturing on the continent.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by Saifullahi Babangida, Chief Executive Officer of Vinicius Group, following the completion of the company’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.

According to Babangida, the new plant will include an armoured vehicle assembly line and a hub for integrated surveillance solutions. The initiative is fully licensed under the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the federal body responsible for regulating defence manufacturing in the country.

“The upcoming facility represents a strategic investment in indigenous security manufacturing, at a time when Africa’s defence needs are intensifying,” the company stated.

Vinicius International cited data from 2023 indicating that military expenditure across Africa rose to $51.6 billion, reflecting a 22 percent increase from the previous year. Despite this growth, the firm noted that more than 95 percent of the continent’s security hardware is still sourced from foreign suppliers, including Russia, China, the United States, and several European countries.

“This dependency often leads to supply chain delays and exposure to shifting geopolitical pressures, posing major risks to national and regional security,” the statement read.

The Abuja-based facility will be designed to produce tactical armoured vehicles suited to African terrain and threat conditions. It will also develop integrated surveillance systems and unmanned aerial platforms tailored to local operational environments.

In addition to manufacturing, the company’s Advanced Security Command and Control (ASCC) division will oversee training programmes aimed at equipping security personnel with the skills required to operate and maintain advanced defence systems.

Babangida said that the plant’s objectives extend beyond Nigeria. “With insecurity rising across West and Central Africa, and countries like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo increasing defence spending, the facility is positioned to become a regional production and support hub,” he said.

He added that the project is intended to generate employment, build technical expertise, and retain economic value within Africa. “By building its infrastructure, assembling security systems, and training personnel within Africa, the company is creating jobs, growing technical capacity, and ensuring that value remains within the continent,” Babangida said.

Vinicius International also announced its openness to collaboration with global manufacturers seeking entry into the African defence market, with the aim of strengthening long-term regional security capabilities. (