Na so e be oh! Federal Government don yan say dem dey plan to stop importing defence and security equipment, instead them go dey produce am for our own land within two to five years. Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, talk dis matter on Thursday for Abuja during the unveiling of DICON X-Shield light tactical armoured vehicle wey dem produce for Naija.
Matawalle, wey get Major General Babatunde Alaya as him representative, talk say this na just the beginning of wetin dem get planned. E go hard for Nigeria to dey rely on foreign supply chains again as dem wan build everything wey dem need locally with local skills and partnerships. According to am, dis move go dey open ways for exports, create jobs, and save our foreign exchange, na wah!
Dis unveiling of the new armoured vehicles no be just product launch oh; na serious matter wey show say we dey gain ground for technical competence for Naija. DICON, wey dey work to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, don dey push to make sure Nigeria fit produce military equipment by ourselves.
Matawalle dey commend X-Shield for the good work dem dey do with advanced vehicle armour and quality assurance. Dis new tactical armoured vehicle sabi dey meet the wahala of modern warfare, ensuring say e dey cost-effective to produce and maintain. E get wahala of mobility, protection and adaptability, so we go fit manage am beta.
The collaboration wey dey happen between DICON and X-Shield go boost Naija’s defence manufacturing base; e go create skillful jobs and even conserve our foreign cash. Matter no fit end there, as dem still dey reason more partnerships wey go help our national security and industrial growth.
On top wetin dey happen, Charles Ibanga wey be CEO of X-Shield talk say dem dey ready to provide local solutions for dis market wey dey look for armoured vehicles as more demand dey come from security agencies and private sector. According to statistics wey dem gather, Nigeria don spend plenty cash on imported armoured vehicles, more than wey dem dey spend buy fuel sef. Can you imagine? Na over ₦5.06tn na im for just armoured vehicles during last quarter alone!
Dis whole move to start local production come as Naija dey face serious security wahala, and fire don dey burn for our pockets as we dey import plenty military equipment. It don tey wey we dey rely on foreign suppliers, and e don dey show for supply chain wahala and foreign exchange gbege. Nigerian ways wan change, and we dey encourage local manufacturing more than ever!
Na the PUNCH journalist, Solomon, wey get five years experience for crime and defence, e dey keep us updated on top dis matter.
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