By Musa Umar Bologi Abuja
Director General of Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Maj.-Gen Bamidele Ogunkale, said yesterday that the corporation will partner only international defence companies that meet its requirements. Speaking while playing host to Nigeria defence attaché to India, Commodore Olusegun Ferreira, in his office in Kaduna, Ogunkale said due to success stories emanating from DICON, more international defence companies have indicated readiness to partner with the company in the production of arms and ammunitions. The DG said though technology transfer and training were important to the corporation to map-out it strategies by partnering with foreign defence companies, the corporation would “only engage those that meet its requirements”.
He said he had established a Public Private Partnership unit in the corporation to streamline the activities of international partners. Earlier in his remark, Ferreira said DICON has a bright future judging from the current efforts of its leadership to reposition the corporation to a greater height. He added that if weapon Procurement Policy was put in place and strictly adhered to, the premier industry would no doubt become the pride of the nation. Ferreira said part of his duties as defence attaché is to identify areas of collaboration between Nigeria and India. He said, as member of Commonwealth of Nations, Nigeria and India had a lot in common, adding that there was need to compare note with India especially in the area of proposed Military Industrial Complex aimed at catering for the need of
the Nation’s Armed Forces and other security agencies. “India Defence Industry is quite vibrant; presently the government is looking for private partners to drive its Defence Industry. A drive aimed at indigenization has been their focus and India Navy is at the forefront of such drive,” he said
