…Chennar says growing local capacity could position country as major hub for military equipment

Nigeria is steadily strengthening its indigenous defence manufacturing capacity and could emerge as a major hub for military equipment supply in Africa, the Chief Executive Officer of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria-D7G (DICON-D7G), Osman Chennar, has said.

Chennar made the assertion after Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt, where the country showcased its growing capabilities alongside major players in the global aerospace and defence industry.

The exhibition, held from September 8 to 10, was the second edition of the El Alamein International Airshow, following its inaugural edition in 2024, which attracted more than 250 exhibitors from 50 countries, with over 100 aircraft and more than 12,000 visitors.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, Chennar said DICON-D7G’s participation demonstrated Nigeria’s determination to build a strong indigenous defence manufacturing industry and reduce its dependence on imported military equipment.

“DICON-D7G is a collaborative defence manufacturing partnership between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and D7G Limited, aimed at producing military hardware locally, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening national security,” he said.

Chennar said the partnership was positioning Nigeria to achieve greater capacity in defence manufacturing while creating opportunities for the country to supply military equipment to itself and other African nations.

He said Nigeria’s growing presence at major international defence exhibitions reflected steady progress in the country’s efforts to develop indigenous military production and strengthen its position within Africa’s defence and security ecosystem.

Chennar also disclosed that arrangements were at an advanced stage for the provision of a military jetty in Lagos, which he said would further enhance Nigeria’s self-reliance in military equipment supply and bolster its wider defence capabilities.

He said Nigeria’s participation in the El Alamein exhibition marked the third occasion the country had showcased its emerging defence manufacturing capabilities at major international exhibitions.

“We were in Doha, Qatar; Ankara, Türkiye; and now Cairo, Egypt,” Chennar said.

According to him, the increasing international exposure would help demonstrate Nigeria’s defence manufacturing potential while strengthening partnerships and opening new opportunities for the country’s indigenous defence industry.