In a decisive move towards strengthening Nigeria’s defence capabilities, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given his assent to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Bill, 2023. This monumental development signifies a significant overhaul of the nation’s defence sector, heralding a new era of innovation, research, and strategic growth.
Established on August 1, 1964, by an Act of Parliament and subsequently revised as the DICON Act in Chapter 94 of the Laws of the Federation, 2004, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria has been a pivotal entity in the country’s defence landscape.
The latest legislation, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2023, not only repeals the previous iteration but also introduces groundbreaking provisions aimed at modernizing and fortifying Nigeria’s defence industry.
The new act grants DICON expansive powers, empowering it to operate, maintain, and control subsidiaries and ordnance factories for the manufacturing, storage, and disposal of ordnance and ancillary materials.
A remarkable addition is the establishment of the Defence Industry Technology, Research, and Development Institute (DITRDI), tasked with creating a robust scientific and research-based technological foundation for Nigeria’s defence industry. The institute is set to leverage multidisciplinary research from various military institutes, fostering innovation that extends to commercialization and the development of cutting-edge military technology and capacity within Nigeria.
One of the key aspects addressed by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2023, is the provision of a comprehensive regulatory framework.
This framework is designed to regulate the manufacturing, distribution, storage, and disposal of defence articles within Nigeria, ensuring adherence to international standards while safeguarding national security interests.
Perhaps most notably, the legislation introduces incentives for the development of a nuanced financing architecture. This innovative approach aims to facilitate private capital involvement in research, development, and production within the defence sector. The transparent and predictable nature of this financing model is expected to stimulate significant advancements in Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
The visionary Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Bill, 2023, was sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency. His commitment to steering this transformative legislation through the legislative process underscores a bipartisan acknowledgement of the critical need for modernization in Nigeria’s defence sector.
The President’s assent to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act, 2023, marks a historic moment in the nation’s defence history. This forward-looking legislation not only empowers DICON with enhanced capabilities but also lays the groundwork for a technologically advanced and self-reliant defence industry.
As Nigeria charts its course towards a secure and prosperous future, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act stands as proof of the country’s commitment to innovation, research, and strategic growth in the defence sector.
