The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oida Energy Ltd. to establish Nigeria’s first in-country oilfield-shaped charge manufacturing facility, a major step toward strengthening the nation’s defence-industrial base and boosting local content in the oil and gas sector.

The signing ceremony, held in Abuja, marks a significant move to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported oilfield explosive technologies while deepening indigenous industrial capacity.

When operational, the facility will produce safe and reliable shaped charges locally to support upstream petroleum operations, facilitate technology transfer, and develop technical expertise within Nigeria. It is also expected to create jobs, build skills, and save foreign exchange by cutting down on imports.

Acting Public Relations Officer of DICON, Lt. Amen Zingzhi, said in a statement that the event was attended by the Director-General of DICON, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya; Managing Director of Oida Energy Ltd., Engr. Emeka Ene; representatives of the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC); and officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

In his remarks, Maj.-Gen. Alaya described the collaboration as “a critical step towards building indigenous capacity in sensitive and strategic industrial technologies.”

Engr. Ene reaffirmed Oida Energy’s commitment to delivering “world-class standards in local manufacturing to support Nigeria’s energy and security needs.”

Representatives of the NUPRC and ONSA lauded the initiative, noting that it aligns with government policies on local content development, national security, and industrialisation.

The partnership, both organisations said, underscores the power of public-private collaboration in driving national industrial growth and represents a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards self-reliance in critical energy and defence technologies.