Buhari tasks defence ministry with the job of manufacturing military hardware locally

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Federal Ministry of Defence to establish a military industrial complex for the local production of weapons to meet the requirements of the country's armed forces.

 

Currently caught up in a brutal war with Bioko Haram terrorists, the Nigerian military has suffered from a lack of weaponry. Several suppliers have been unwilling to sell Nigeria hardware like tanks, jets and helicopters and even when they are ready to, the quantities and quality needed is not always immediately available.

 

This has led to operational difficulties as the Nigerian Army and the air force have not been able to respond to Boko Haram attacks on time, which has allowed the terrorist sect to grow in strength. Keen to turn the tide, President Buhari has asked the defence ministry to look at manufacturing weapons locally.

 

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the National Defence College, President Buhari described as unacceptable, Nigeria's current over-dependence on other countries for critical military equipment and logistics. He added that his administration has since the assumption of office, reviewed the nature and character of Nigeria's security threats and challenges.

 

President Buhari said: “We must evolve viable mechanisms for near-self-sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production complemented only by very advanced foreign technologies. The ministry of defence is being tasked to draw up clear and measurable outlines for development of a modest military industrial complex for Nigeria.

"In this regard, it is to liaise with other strategic ministries, departments, agencies and industries to re-engineer the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria to meet national military hardware and logistics requirements. We recognise first and foremost, the external dimensions of these threats and the need for international cooperation and common security mechanisms to tackle them."

 

He added that the federal government under his leadership would strive to meet the operational, logistic, training and welfare requirements of the armed forces of Nigeria. President Buhari also reaffirmed his commitment to ameliorating the hardships of people living in areas most affected by insurgency and terrorism.