Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that Nigeria needs to invest in local production of military hardware especially armament to effectively address the security challenges.

The vice president spoke while receiving a presentation by the National Defence College Course 30 participants on Wednesday.

The event was a virtual interaction.

He said: “One of the most critical areas is the question of local production of military hardware and I think it is a low-hanging fruit when it comes to manufacturing some of the hardware that we will need.

“I think that there is a need, especially now to really look very closely at local production of our hardware, beginning with armament.”

According to him, the challenges Nigeria is facing and the nature of the challenges are evident that Nigeria needs to be many steps ahead of non-state actors who are perpetrators of the asymmetric warfare that we are experiencing.

“It is clear that given current realities in our security situation, there is absolutely every need for us to fast-forward all our plans for the future so that we can be much more effective in dealing with the current threats and the threats that we will experience as we go into the future,” he added.

He averred that Nigeria’s current security challenges and emerging threats require the country’s military and other relevant stakeholders to be several steps ahead of perpetrators.

He called for an improved investment in Defence Industries Corporation (DICON).

“We mentioned India, Brazil, and even the more developed economies of the world, during the first world war, the second world war, it was these challenges that led to the development of their military-industrial complexes.

“We have a challenge today, there are so many zones where there are conflicts, he said.

The VP commended the course participants for their efforts in bringing innovations in the defence sector.

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“If we say the local companies should produce some of the mobile platforms like Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), and Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), if we give them the contracts, they will produce.

“But if we choose to import rather than produce locally then we will never develop our military-industrial complex.”

He emphasised on the need for transparency in the management of resources meant for the acquisition of hardware for the defence and security agencies.

He noted: “There needs to be more accountability because every time you hear about ‘we not having enough equipment,’ but there must be accountability.

“I will like to see a framework for greater accountability within the Ministry of Defence that ensures that they are able to account for military expenditure,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Course 30 participants, Col. A. Adamu argued for the restructuring of the Ministry of Defence to reflect contemporary challenges as well as contain emerging threats of security.

He also highlighted enhancing Nigeria’s defence production capacity, leveraging technology and improving collaboration within and across Africa as determining factors for the effective transformation of Nigeria’s defence and security sector.

He prayed for the speedy recovery of the Vice President who is recuperating from a surgery.

The event was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, and representative of the Inspector General of Police.

The Star