The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, says Nigeria produces more than 50 million rounds of ammunition annually against a national requirement of about 300 million, as the Federal Government moves to strengthen local defence manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.

Matawalle spoke with The Guardian on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Organised by dmg events in partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), with the backing of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Defence, the exhibition runs until October 29, 2026.

AFRIDEX showcases land, maritime, air, space and cyber capabilities, bringing African governments, armed forces, defence manufacturers, technology providers and specialist suppliers together.

Its exhibition and conference programme focuses on operational readiness, procurement and the development of indigenous defence industries.

Matawalle described the exhibition as a landmark event, noting that Nigeria had not hosted one of such scale in the 62 years since DICON was established.

He said the turnout of international participants and investors demonstrated growing confidence in Nigeria’s defence industry and the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s security capabilities.

“We have witnessed this in other countries, where investors display military hardware and other equipment. But here we are in Lagos, with attendees from all over the world coming to invest in Nigeria,” he said.

According to the minister, several countries are engaging DICON on partnership agreements aimed at developing local defence production capabilities.

He said the government was encouraged by the participation of international investors and expressed confidence that future editions of the exhibition would attract even greater interest.

Matawalle said Nigeria had made progress in ammunition production, moving from what he described as having no domestic bullet production to producing more than 50 million rounds annually.

“We weren’t producing a single bullet in Nigeria before, but today we are producing over 50 million rounds of ammunition out of the 300 million rounds required per year,” he said.

He added that meeting the country’s ammunition requirements would support efforts to tackle insecurity, although domestic production alone would not guarantee an end to terrorism and other security threats.

The minister urged investors to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria’s defence sector, assuring them that the government was prepared to provide incentives and protect their investments.

Matawalle, who also supervises DICON, said Nigeria had a pool of talented engineers, scientists and defence professionals capable of developing indigenous technologies to address the country’s security challenges.

He said investment in local defence manufacturing would strengthen national capabilities while contributing to wider efforts to improve security across Africa.

“Only by joining forces can we effectively tackle the complex challenges we face, harness our collective strengths, and build a brighter future for all,” he said.

The minister also urged international partners to ensure that their investments included technology transfer and the development of local technical expertise.

He said defence partnerships should leave Nigerian engineers and technical personnel equipped to sustain production lines after agreements with foreign partners had been implemented.

Matawalle stressed that defence manufacturing partnerships required time, due diligence and commitment from all parties, adding that the Ministry of Defence and DICON valued partners willing to fulfil agreements on schedule.

He identified research, technology transfer, manufacturing, production and the procurement of military hardware and other equipment as key areas for collaboration.

On the fight against terrorism, the minister commended Nigerian troops for their efforts to protect the country and urged them to sustain their operations against terrorists and other criminal groups.

“We appreciate their efforts and we are with them, supporting them with prayers and other things, and we assure them that all their needs will be provided for,” he said.

Matawalle also called on Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu another term in office, expressing confidence that his administration would continue efforts to transform the country.