By Abubakar Yunusa
The Chief Executive Officer of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G), Osman Chennar, has led members of the board on an inspection visit to the proposed site of Nigeria’s first military jetty in Lagos.
The project is expected to strengthen indigenous defence production and support the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda on self-reliance in military manufacturing.
Speaking during the visit, Chennar described the facility as a strategic infrastructure that would enhance Nigeria’s logistics chain and industrial capacity in defence production.
He said the jetty, located near Tin Can Island Port, would enable efficient importation of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) components, as well as other critical raw materials needed for local assembly.
“The project will reduce turnaround time, lower transportation costs and streamline supply chain operations necessary for scaling up local defence production,” he said.
According to him, the facility will support domestic manufacturing of small and medium arms, ammunition, tactical drones, unmanned systems and mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles.
Chennar also disclosed that DICON-D7G has commenced production of DG103 rifles in Kaduna for both Nigerian and African markets.
He added that the proposed jetty, when completed, is projected to create employment for over 2,000 retired military personnel and about 5,000 skilled civilians.
A member of the board, Major-General Mainasara Abdul Masanawa (retd), said the jetty would serve as an export gateway for finished defence products to friendly African countries.
He noted that the development would deepen regional defence cooperation and position Nigeria as a hub for military manufacturing on the continent.
“The project underscores our commitment to reducing reliance on foreign defence equipment and strengthening self-sufficiency for the Armed Forces and other security agencies,” Masanawa said.
He further stated that the initiative would help conserve foreign exchange, build local technical expertise and stimulate technology transfer.
The military jetty is scheduled for official launch in June 2026, marking what officials describe as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive towards a resilient and self-sustaining defence industrial base.
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