Nigeria to begin export of ammunition by year-end
The Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), have neutralised 13,543 terrorists and criminals, and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages between May 2023 and February 2025.
The outcomes, announced during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing yesterday in Abuja by Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, highlighted the effectiveness of the nation’s military strategy in combating insurgency, criminality, and the persistent threat of terrorism.
The coordinated military efforts, primarily concentrated in the volatile Northeast region, have been hailed as a significant step forward in the country’s anti-terrorism campaign.
Abubakar emphasised that the military’s operational intensity, particularly in the Northeast, has yielded substantial results, thanks to a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
According to him, the strategies have proven instrumental in dismantling terrorist networks and reclaiming areas once under insurgent control, allowing the return of thousands of displaced citizens to their ancestral homes.
“In addition to the killing of terrorist leaders such as Damina, Kachanda, and Ali Kawaji, the operations have also resulted in the capture of over 17,000 suspects and the surrender of more than 124,000 combatants and their families,” he added.
The ministry cautioned that amid the feats, the country continues to face significant security challenges. BUT the country is to begin exporting locally manufactured military equipment before the end of 2025, marking a major step forward in the nation’s push for defence industry’s self-reliance.
The minister, who made the announcement, said the move was to enhance the country’s national security capabilities while generating foreign exchange through arms exports. He also revealed that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) is partnering with Ajaokuta Steel Company to boost local arms production.
The Minister added that by December, 20 firms are to be in full production, paving the way for Nigeria’s first-ever military exports.
