As Nigeria continues to battle threats from insurgency, banditry and cross-border terrorism, a security expert, Dr Bright Echefu, has disclosed that the country now produces military-grade bombs, drones, and other advanced surveillance equipment locally.
 
He attributed the development to the deliberate government policies aimed at promoting indigenous solutions to national security challenges. Echefu, who is Chairman of EIB Stractoc Limited, dropped the hint during a parley with journalists in Abuja, where he led a guided tour of the company’s subsidiaries and facilities. 
 
The visit offered insight into the firm’s operations and its role in supporting the country’s security infrastructure.  He said the Federal Government’s insistence on prioritising local content in defence procurement has spurred rapid innovation among Nigerian manufacturers.
 
According to him, many of the technologies currently deployed by the military in the North-East and other hotspots are developed and supplied by Nigerian firms.  
 
He said: “So, the truth is this: the Nigerian government has recognised the need to support homegrown companies. There are policies in place to assist indigenous companies. That’s why the Federal Government has made it mandatory that, before you start looking abroad, you must first check if there’s a Nigerian company that offers the services or products you need. That policy has really helped us.”

“If you notice, we’re doing a lot in the area of equipment production for security agencies in Nigeria, and that’s because of the government’s policies. I can tell you that Nigeria doesn’t import uniforms anymore; they rely on local manufacturing companies like ours. Even bombs are now produced locally. For a long time, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has been producing bullets, and has even started producing assault rifles.
 
“Many of the items currently being used in the North-East and some other locations are actually homegrown solutions, and we’re grateful to this government. It’s never been better. The government is encouraging Nigerian companies to play a major role in national security.”
 
Asked why insecurity persists in the country despite the local production of advanced weapons and surveillance tools, Echefu explained that security threats in Nigeria are complex and often embedded within communities.